Last time we started choosing a fan. While you can install a straight, no-frills unit, choosing one with an attached light gives you more versatility.
At the basic level, you switch the light on and off with a wall switch (and/or a pull chain), and adjust the fan speed and direction with pull chains. But that can be a pain, particularly with a high ceiling. Some fans can be controlled by remote control switches, which make it easier, or you can wire a switch to control light level and fan speed, if the fan has two accessible hot wires (controlling the motor and the light).
Consider this now. If you plan on using an existing wall switch and fixture box — unless it’s already wired with a three-wire cable — you’ll probably want to settle for switching the light on and off with the wall switch and using the chains for the fan. Now, a note of caution here. It might occur to you that a dimmer switch will let you control the fan speed. Well, it will. For a short time. But it will burn out before long. Special switches are available which look like dimmers, but work with motors.
If you really want to avoid the chain-pulling thing, go for the remote. Or, you may be able to pull a new 3-wire through by attaching it very securely to the existing 2-wire at the light switch, and pulling the wire at the fixture box. This is iffy. It can be tough to pull the wire through if the holes are tight, particularly when you’ve taped and twisted the two wires together. And if your twisting and taping job doesn’t hold halfway through, you’ll have to get out the drywall saw and mud. So think carefully, first.