Options! (Because everyone wants to know what you picked, and how much it was.)

Building in the neighborhood we are, many of the upgraded options are “included” with the house. Of course, that is why the Avalon in our ‘hood starts a good bit higher than an Avalon in a development down the road a bit. But all the standard upgrades are ones we would have wanted anyway, so we have justified the higher starting cost. (It’s like Kohls having a sale every weekend. Why not just have everything priced lower all the time? Because then we wouldn’t have the endorphin rush of supposedly finding a really good deal. But I digress…)

Here is what we’ve selected. I’ve included prices, when I think they might be interesting to know.

OUTSIDE:

Elevation A (the one that looks like a traditional farm house), siding, no brick, with a full front porch: $7,200

Black metal roof on porch: $2,000 (included in our neighborhood)

Lot premium (larger corner lot, with side driveway entrance in a cul-de-sac): $2,500

Two-car side-entry garage, not a three-car (standard)

Enhanced landscape package (we had to get this, as we are a corner lot, but it is included)

The smallest composite deck, 10’x12′ (only composite is available, no wood– upgrade)

INSIDE (DOWNSTAIRS):

Tray ceiling in dining room (included): $600

Bay window in living room

Hardwood floor in entry foyer and kitchen (standard)

Hardwood floor through everything save the family room (upgrade)

Fairfield Maple Spice Timberlake kitchen cabinets (standard)

Granite in the kitchen (standard)

Gourmet island in the kitchen (a HELL YES! upgrade): $2,690

Gas cooktop (another HELL YES! upgrade): $275

Black appliances instead of “standard” stainless: $900 credit (I am the only person in America who is ambivalent about stainless steel appliances)

Converting the first-floor study to a guest bedroom with a full bathroom (upgrade): $1,700

4′ extension to the family room

Dedicated outlet in the garage for a fridge or freezer

Laundry sink and cabinets in laundry room (upgrade)

Wood stairs with direct-set balusters (upgrade that we AGONIZED over; well, ok, I agonized over as my husband was nonplussed as to my agony over stairs)

Upgraded wood trim package, or the Daddy Mac of Crown Railings: $2,900

Morning Room (the incentive for financing through NVR)

INSIDE (UPSTAIRS):

Luxury owners’ suite with super-duper bathroom (upgrade)

Bonus room instead of two-story open family room

Double sinks in upstairs hall bathroom: $500

Upgraded cabinets and granite countertops in all bathrooms

Upgraded tile package in master bath: $2,195

Pull-down attic (surprisingly, an upgrade)

COLOR CHOICES:

Carpet upstairs: Terrific Twosome Gallery 103 with the 7/16 pad (upgrade)

Carpet in family room: Terrific Twosome Intuitive Pebble 700 with the 7/16 pad (upgrade)

Hardwood floor: Dundee 2 1/4″ Cherry (surprisingly, standard choice)

Master bathroom tile: Castillian Gray with Slate Radiance listello; grout is Oyster Gray

All bathroom cabinets are Scottsdale Maple Espresso with the Meteroite granite countertops

Upstairs bathroom: white tile tub surround with Oyster Gray grout; linoleum is Initiator 66205

Downstairs bathroom: Matte Arctic White tile floor with Oyster Grout (can you tell I was losing interest by the time we got to the grout selection?)

All hardware is oil-rubbed bronze finish

Exterior siding: Pebble Clay

Exterior shutters: Black

Front door: Farm House Red

Exterior trim: White

Brick: Catawba

Kitchen countertops: New Caledonia