Regis, that is my final answer! (I think)

Lots of decisions made today, and the window of opportunity for changes is closing in fast.  Pre-construction meeting is in the next 1-2 weeks and Rite-Rug next week!!!!

  Regarding upgrades, here's what we changed today:

• Deleted the fireplace. Why? The Verona only allows it on the back wall.  This puts limitations on the family room arrangement.  Also, I have one in my current house and never use it. Winters are rather short in North Carolina. The other factor was that it juts out the back of the house and gets in the way of the deck.  So that decision is final.
• Deleted the oak steps and will get the oak banister and pine steps with carpet. I was going to put carpet runner on the oak anyway, and basically you're paying about 1800 extra for oak treads.  
• Deleted "Finish drywall in garage."  I'm confident I can save some money and find someone later on who can hang the remaining 2 or 3 sheets needed for less than the cost of the upgrade.
• Downgraded double 15-panel doors in the morning room to the sliding door. 
• Added extra hosebib on side of house. I like one near the sideload garage for car washing.
• Added what I believe is the 10th Ceiling fan rough-in to the morning room but will have the light fixture added too. This way a fan can be put there later on if desired. 
• Added concrete to extend driveway to back of house.
• Added concrete to make a walkway to connect driveway to landing of deck. 
• Added 110 outlet to Bonus room and garage. 
• Added 110 outlet in Master BR high up on wall for TV mount.
• Added Floodlights to front and rear.

Well that was the easy stuff. Then we moved on to the stones and siding and granite. Given how difficult this is, it only scares me more for Rite-Rug and Guardian.

So basically you have to stare at stuff like this and reach deep into your imagination and picture the whole house. Easy! (not!)

Exterior Colors

  Rustic Kentucky for the stones.  Monterey Taupe for the Hardie Planks and brown for the shutters.

 

For the kitchen it will be Maple Cognac cabinets and the ever popular Santa Cecilia granite counter tops.

For the Master Bath and secondary bathrooms, going with a darker cabinet (Wyoming Cherry Bordeaux). No more slouching here, this vanity is "Gentleman's height."

Exterior Front  Door Hardware: Bronze

Interior hardware  nickel.

Will this be what it's like at Rite-Rug?

Is this what I should expect at Rite-Rug when I ask "So what can I have for Level 1?"

Things should pick up this week!

It's been a slow couple of weeks with no activity. My lot had not yet been officially acquired and my SR was on vacation. The cool thing is it allowed lots of time to dwell on upgrade choices and watch the progress in other blogs. I will definitely be making a few changes to the selections.

Current Upgrade Choices.

Here are the picks so far....Rite-Rug and Guardian are still weeks away (and I'm glad).

• Crawl Foundation
• Elevation C partial stone
• Sideload Garage
• Morning Room w / side windows
• Wood Deck
• Bonus Room w / closet
• Kitchen Peninsula (Granite)
• Kitchen Island (Granite)
• Maple Cognac 42" Cabinets
• Hardwood floor in kitchen, morning room, foyer
• Cabinet Crown Moulding
• Stainless steel appliances  ( no fridge)
• Add side window to study
• Alternate shower upgrade, the one with the bench!
• First floor front bedroom
• Ceramic Surround bathrooms
• Double bowl vanity in each bathroom
• Cherry Bordeaux vanities in bathrooms
• Attic Storage ( they tell me 192 sq feet)
• Oak Banister stairwell
• Recessed kitchen lighting
• Ceiling fan rough-ins in every major room
• Light Fixture for morning room
• Laundry tubs: 1 in garage, 1 in laundry room
• Tankless Water Heater (which I don't really want, but not downgradeable).

Uncertainties include:

• Delete Fireplace. 
• Should I waste money to finish the drywall in the Garage?  $590 for a couple pieces of drywall.
• Carpet upgrade worth it? They get ya' on these!
• Padding upgrade?
• Where do I want extra electrical outlets?
• Cable TV outlets. Anyone know what they charge for additional ones? 
• Extra hosebib? I like having one on the side of the house by the garage.
• Resilient flooring? Maybe in laundry room?

Options, options, options!

     Well it looks like there will be a couple of weeks with little happening which means more time to lose sleep over options.  I welcome feedback on options you got in your Ryan Home that you regret, or things you regret that you didn't get. Anybody not get a fireplace? Yes, it's the focal point, yes it's good for resale, but it also limits furniture arrangement.  

The Model

Here is a picture of the Model Verona, but the actual house will be the same elevation C with side load garage. I've spent much time in this model, I'm hoping I don' t have to pay rent. I plan to post the option choices soon. While Jenn is probably deciding on color choices, I'm obsessing over more important things like electrical outlets, network jacks and "Half-hots."

Here's an example with the side load garage.

With a stroke of a pen, another Verona is born!