jaspal,

We are doing almost the same thing in our new Iris currently being built. We chose the appliance package with the smallest cheapest refrigerator with plans of moving it into the garage and replacing it with the French door style refrigerator. I hadn't thought about also swapping out the microwave and dishwasher but I may have to consider that now also.

FWIW, we looked at French door refrigerators at Lowes this past weekend and they seem to have a decent selection with reasonable prices. I think they were in the middle of a holiday sale however.

I'll bet you could go into Lowes and tell them that you wanted to buy several appliances and you want them at the price they had last week and they will honor it.

If you are looking at french door refridgerators and planning on keeping the original as a second you might want to consider a counter depth model. It definitely holds less food, but you'll have a backup. I did that when I renovated my kitchen (I chose a freezer bottom) and the fridge now blends in with the cabinetry around it rather than sticking out. The extra fridge is useful when I have company, at holidays and to hold my bucket of frozen daquiries.

I'm not sure if all french door refridgerators have the same problem, but I found that it was very easy to not close the doors completely. Luckily mine has an alarm that sounds if a door is left open more than 2 (or maybe 3) minutes.

You are right - Lowe's or Home Depot will usually give you a good deal if you are buying more than one item - try negotiating.

If you don't want the appliances, do you get a credit?

It seems like you should be able to get a credit from the builder for unwanted/uneeded appliances.

I could be wrong though - Frequently am.

I wholeheartedly agree that you should be able to buy whatever appliances you want and not have to just settle at first and then do an upgrade after you buy. They've been doing this for so long that there's probably no use in trying to rock the boat at this point. As I have said many times before, "It's their ball game and if you want to play, you have to play by their rules and use their ball".

We have a french door ref. with bottom freezer up north and I hate it. Like yours, the doors don't always close and I don't like having to dig through frozen food to get to the bottom. With that being said, they do look great and we don't like the top freezer that came with our new build, so my wife will tell me she wants another french door/ bottom freezer (yes, dear), and we'll put the original in the laundry room. Don't know how anyone feels about Appliance Direct, but we got a good deal on a front loading steam washer and dryer from them and had them stacked to make room for the refrigerator when we come down full time. The salesman at Lowes said that they were the only store they wouldn't match because their prices were so low and that he couldn't understand how they did it. Home depot wouldn't match them either. Like I said, don't know if people on TOTV like them, but they gave me what they promised and when they promised it. Might be worth the short trip.:thumbup:

Thanks for the info on Appliance Direct. I will check them out once we're settled in. I guess the closest store to Buttonwood would be in Fruitland Park.

frenchdoor fridge
 

We have had one for 3 years- up north- and I LOVE it. My husband has arthritis and it was so hard for him to dig in the fridge for things he wanted in the old fridge with freezer on top. He would have to get down on a knee to get fruit and veggies out of drawer and then moan and groan to get back up. I certainly don't want to put any obstacles in his way to getting those healthy foods!!! :icon_wink:. We get in and use the fridge so much more than the freezer and so I think it makes so much more sense for it to be waist up and the fridge at eye level to find all those leftovers etc so very easy. Also I find the bottom freezer very handy Yep, I've had trouble with leaving a door open and yep mine beeps at me...but overall I find it great.

See what I mean? That's why my wife's in charge!:confused:

As I mention in a earlier post I bought mine at Appliance Direct and I was pleased with delivery and set up, you owe it to yourself to check them out.

NO credit back..

Where is Appliance Direct?

I agree with you. I love the look of the french doors (my husband is not sold YET). I use the fridge 80% of the time. We do not freeze very many items.

It's on 441/27. If you take 466A to 441/27 and then take a right, it's about a 1/2 mile on your left. Didn't think to ask about credit back, so I don't have an answer for that. And I do agree with you and my wife as to the looks of the french doors, but I guess I'm just use to a side by side. I think there would be less bending over in one of those. but like I said, it's not my decision!:a20:

When we were in the designing mode, I found that if I wanted to
 

do the floors after we move in all one has to do is specify the cheapest linoleum available...then get a credit for the carpet and tile.

The after market contractors and tile suppliers have a much, MUCH better selection and charge less....TV "adder" for labor and materials is a big number for a whole house.

Ditto for counter tops....spec the cheapest TV offers and then after closing go get the good stuff and save $$$.

Another tip is to specify putting both gas and electric for your kitchen range and laundry room. Then one has the option of putting in which ever they choose when ready.

btk