Is this normal for new construction? (sale, countertops, home builder)

[sabex]

I signed a contract with a new home builder last week along with a long list of options.
Today I get an email listing only some of the options along with a 'deposit amount' and asked to sign and return it.
When I queried, I was told the deposit is 'an accounting thing' and that this is a list of 'structural options' and the other options would be taken care of at the design center. Quite how a smooth top stove is 'structural' is beyond me, but the rest of the items on the list undoubtedly are.
In addition, supposedly I need to sign this before I go to the design center.
How does the color of my kitchen countertops affect the wiring for a light outside the garage?

Please tell me if this is normal for new construction in Texas.

[Paka]

When we contracted to build our home, we opted for about 11K in "Upgrades"...we had to pay that $$ upfront along with our normal "ernest money"...so if you are talking UPGRADE options, that is very normal. That is because, if for some reason you decide NOT to close on the house, they have made the changes YOU have personally requested and they need to ensure that they are not stuck trying to convince the next potential buyer they are worth it. It is the only way they will allow you to "customize" your home without them risking a financial loss.

[JNA]

Originally Posted by sabex

I signed a contract with a new home builder last week along with a long list of options.
Today I get an email listing only some of the options along with a 'deposit amount' and asked to sign and return it.
When I queried, I was told the deposit is 'an accounting thing' and that this is a list of 'structural options' and the other options would be taken care of at the design center. Quite how a smooth top stove is 'structural' is beyond me, but the rest of the items on the list undoubtedly are.
In addition, supposedly I need to sign this before I go to the design center.
How does the color of my kitchen countertops affect the wiring for a light outside the garage?

Please tell me if this is normal for new construction in Texas.

It was a while since we did our selections (September), but I do recall that we did have "design center options" that were done at the design center and another set of options (don't remember if they were called structural) for choosing things like the elevation, promotional package, etc. I think it was done this way mainly for their accounting purposes (i.e. if it was part of their initial sale or upselling at the design center). The final value of our home and upgrades added up correctly, when the whole process was done.

[texasdreamin]

Write it into the contract yourself. List each item and initial the section. You can make a heading such as: To be followed up with the design center, or something like that.

[kevcrawford]

It's not abnormal. There are a lot of things that affect the structure of the house. The type of oven/range could determine where it has to be placed, which could possibly affect where the studs have to be, where the electrical has to be run, if there needs to be a downdraft or updraft exhaust vent and where it'll go, etc, etc, etc. Little things can be a big domino effect that affects something else down the road. Just ask the builder why it's being done that way and I'm pretty sure they'll have a good reason for it.

[banker]

What builder are you going with? We had to sign paper work for our upgrades in the Quarry at Iron Mountain. In fact - we signed lots of paper work to get the final house documentation in order. I think this is normal.

[sabex]

Thanks for the feedback, it seems I am a little more paranoid than I thought...

[banker]

Originally Posted by sabex

Thanks for the feedback, it seems I am a little more paranoid than I thought...

What builder did you go with?

[sabex]

Medallion Homes

[scooter3418]

We spoke with our builder about this. He said it is their way of offsetting all the upgrade costs as alot of the time, people will decide not to finish the home or for some reason the deal falls through, and all these upgrades are paid for in advance, that way the next buyer doesnt get screwed with the upgrades the person who built it wanted. He basically said that if it falls through, the upfront payments from the upgrades is a way they can "double-dip" the costs and a way that they can "discount" the house price, by originally charging the upgrades and make it seem like a great deal when they lower the price and "throw the upgrades in for free". If you dont back out of the house, you dont really get shafted by it.

Hope this helps, our builder rep was very helpful about explaining it all - i hope I did justice to the explanation.