IP design center

The general consensus here regarding to design center upgrades are do Cabinets, counter tops, electricals through the builder.  Flooring can go either way depends on how much the prices differences between the builder and outside contractor.  But with IP, outside contractor are significantly cheaper. 

After you sign the contract, ask about the complete list of stage 1 options and the stage 1 cut-off date.  The Cut-off date usually came up very quickly and most of stage 1 options like California Room, Conservatory, shower in lieu of bath tub, tech room require 100% deposit.

Obtain your IP Design Center's user name and password asap. Once you have these, you can accesshttp://www.studiochateau.com/and read about stage 2 options.

Stage 2 options are numerous and the list are over 40 pages long.  It include things like appliances, cabinets, knobs, doors, electrical pre-wirings, recessed lights, outlets, crown moldings, insulation etc.  It would be a good idea to studies these options before your fist design center appointment, so you have more time to make a decision on these options and use your appointment time more efficiently.

If you finish your stage 2 option selection early during your appointment, ask your design consultant to show you around about stage 3 options items.  Stage 3 options mainly consists of  countertop, backsplash, tiles, and flooring items.  Look around in the design center and starts to get an idea what do you want to do for your new home.

The way IPDS do thing is that in one appointment they show you the options, let you think over, and make your final decision on the subsequent appointment.  For these stage 3 options, it's really hard to make these selections in these very restricted time frame.  So if you got extra time at end of your stage 2 option appointment, use it to look at some stage 3 options.

The design center used to let home buyers go in and out of design center in between appointment to look at tile, stone samples, but not anymore. You can only go in if you have appointment.  So if you need more time to looks at different stone, tiles, etc here's some more tips for you.

For granite countertops (other than standard free granite kitchen countertop):
IPDS mainly uses Arizona tile's slab yard in Anaheim  http://www.arizonatile.com/  and Marbolis also in Anaheim. http://www.marbolis.com/
When you get there, sign in at front desk and just tell them you bought a home from Irvine Pacific.  Both places have large selection of granite slab for you to choose and both have very helpful and friendly staff.  Here you can look at granite in full slab instead of small 6x6 sample at design center, and it really helps when you looks at granite slab in full size.  What ever slab they have in stock,  most likely you can use it even if you didn't see it at the design center.  Just get the name of granite and confirm with your design consultant about prices and availability.  Once you decided on type granite, you can go back and select specific slab. 

For porcelain, natural stone tile, etc:
Most of selection are from Arizona Tilehttp://www.arizonatile.com/,Bedrosians www.bedrosians.com/locations/view/126/Anaheim_Showroom and Daltile http://www.daltile.com/  All have showroom in Anaheim so you can browse through great selection of  mosaic tile, floor tiles etc.  Arizona tile and Daltile will hand out free tile samples.  Not all the selection are available through IPDS, you need to check with your DS consultant. 

At IPDS, when you see the tile sample with code AZT (Arizona tile), Dal (Daltile), and BTS (Bedrosians), now you know where these tile are from. 

Warning:  When you visit these tile showroom, you will  find out how much these tile coast and how much more IP charge you for it. 

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