[graciegirl]

I think I will tell the new people who have yet to buy a new home here or have one built that you can't expect the process to be like those in the past.
Even if you buy a million dollar home already built.

I have a friend who wanted to put another color of granite into her Gardenia, an unusual one that was not offered. No. She had to have it built, have the counters removed and put in the granite she liked.

I have another friend who was buying an already built new home and wanted to have the carpet changed. No. After the home was closed she changed the carpet.

I am told by friends who have built that there are certain packages of carpet, tile, exterior colors etc. and you can't switch colors or even qualities within that package.When I browse the homes for sale that were built ten or more years ago I see all kinds of colored carpets and inlaid tiles in designs etc. I can only guess that when they were doing all of these personalizations that they got burnt. The home didn't close and they were left with a very...say..unusual and unmarketable combination. Maybe it happened enough times that they decided to change the rules. I know they have learned as they go along in other areas as well.

Once you realize that building a house is different here, it is easier. They have it down to a science, a timetable, and making changes costs money, it holds up their perfect plan.

In the end, once you get used to how they do things, it is usually alright.

When we had the builder walk through with the list of minor things that needed attention, they were accomplished within 24 hours, most within an hour. I am still in awe of that.

We have built seven homes in our life. And plan to build another one here.