We were the first couple to go through the new design process. It is wildly frustrating because it is very arbitrary. The only thing making it bearable was the consultant from the design center was very helpful, felt our pain, and was probably as inwardly frustrated as we were. You feel like many of the take it or leave it decisions on allowed options were decided in a smoke filled room at 2am on how many pennies could be saved.
Go to the design center and walk around looking at the choices for cabinets, colors, counter tops etc. Upstairs among the tile etc look for the dozen or so red stickers for the items you can pick from among the hundreds they use to offer.
There is option forms for all model homes. Ask for it from your realtor or stop at the design center and get it. Ask for ALL the options well in advance to mull over before you are there. They did a sort of dropbox with all of the things and it saved time and tampered expectations.
I know things have changed. We wanted a backsplash in the kitchen and were told no way. Our neighbor did it a few weeks later and were told no problem on a back splash. We wanted the TV hookups to be 60 inches off the floor and they did it. Our neighbor who got the back splash was told no way to having hookups up the wall. Its just dumb.
Wild struggle to get double wall ovens and a gas cook top.
We wanted a pot filler in the kitchen and couldn't.
Every single item you pick or they will do is written out on a multi page list by room. They build against that specifically and not so much the plans. So if the list says X thats what it is. You need a fresh cup of coffee and plenty of time to clearly read through the list.
Overall the home was built well. We are happy with it. I don't think you'll get much in the way of change orders. We never interacted with the builder during construction. A couple emails here and there with the design center people to clear up some questions.
I've never been as flexible as I was during this process. Its not the dream house but I'd give it a close enough........
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