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IMHO, recessed lighting in every room is a must.  Floor lamps are a poor substitute and will never give you the even distributed light that recessed lighting provides.  Furthermore, I think every bedroom should have a minimum of four recessed lights, 2 is too dim without enough coverage. I'm...

IMHO, thermafoil screams cheap and doesn't belong in a house over $1.3M (except the laundry room, where I would upgrade nothing). 

Subzero is well regarded but pricey.  Aftermarket flooring companies will have to move out the built in and put it back in place.  Btw, if you want wood stairs, you should go with the builder.  It's not an after COE type of job cuz the newels and balusters are already in place.  I love wood...

This.  Everything else is secondary, not unimportant, just way down the list of priorities. 

It's the nature of internet forums.  This bulletin board is first and foremost a real estate forum.  People will always defend their 'hood because they don't want buyer's remorse and think they made the best choice, other opinions be damned.  There is no best neighborhood, there is only a best...

Big ass +1.  Why are ppl even talking about elementary school ratings like it means anything?  Maybe bragging right for FCBs?  We're not discussing Harvard vs CSULB (no offense to any Long Beach grads).  Btw, Woodbury Elementary is a year round school so if a Woodbury resident wants their kid to...

I agree with you, Socal123.  Plus, it's your yard and your money.  Do what you want with it.  If you enjoy entertaining and will use the yard, I think it's money well spent.

Nice review IHO.  I'm generally not a fan of interior courtyards but Messina's work well.  For plan 2, if a buyer opts for the outdoor kitchen, the area flows nicely from courtyard to outdoor kitchen to loggia .  And with the optional stacking doors indoor/outdoor space becomes seemless. Not...

Tompkins Flooring in Irvine is well regarded and has a nice selection including hi end options.  My advice is to set up a consultant to meet you at the model home and go over pricing and options.  Try to be discreet, the salespeople tend to get prickly with aftermarket companies coming in and...

I honestly can't see a way to upgrade a new construction for less than $10k. 

Yeah, still difficult unless you know someone...like a pastry chef. ;). You shoulda made a trip. Cool story, Thomas Keller happened to be in kitchen the night we dined.  My wife got him to sign a cookbook.  He also gave us a tour of the kitchen and showed us his closed circuit TV of Per Se. ...

Not sure if I can name the top 5.  But the best meal I've ever had was at The French Laundry in Yountville.  Amazing in every way.  But the price tag...ouch.

The insulation upgrade is really a must IMHO.  Typically runs $2k-$3k depending on the size of the house.

Yeah, don't understand the poll choices at all.  A built in fridge can be $10k+ all by itself.

Lol, this is the better analogy.

Guys, I know we're just giving our opinions in this thread, but some posts directed at Mandy and Stonegate seem a bit harsh in tone.  I think some of you can make the same sentiments without the outright vitriol.

Yup, not an expert.  Just someone that's gone thru the process a couple of times and have thought about the upgrades in depth.  I've also priced out options with outside companies and compared.  But in the end, I'm just a talking head. Most options are overpriced but that's the price a buyer...

Paris, 25-30% deposit is standard for upgrades.  No getting around it. In terms of what to upgrade with the builder and what to do with an outside contractor after COE, the rule of thumb is anything structural, electrical or plumbing should be done with the builder.  For example, conservatory...

Mandy's post reaffirms the fallacy of asking for opinions on an anonymous bulletin board.  Everyone will defend their decision because it's human nature to become defensive on a big purchase because nobody wants to have buyers remorse.  (I'm not saying your post is defensive Mandy, just making a...

I don't understand the poll.  Since most/all ppl will have lived in just one, maybe two of the homes built by different builders, are you just asking for reputation vs 1st hand experience.  Best:  Based on word of mouth, personal experience and/or the intrawebz, it seems like TNHC and Toll...