"You can keep what you have or choose what is behind door #2." Well, its not quite that bad, we kind of know what is behind door #2, we just don't always know the price.

When we started this we were told that the kitchen came with an electric stove in either white or black. If you wanted gas there was an upgrade and they did offer a "gourmet" package of a gas stove top with a double oven. I currently have a double oven and I love it. I figured that if they had these packages you would think that they have set models and set prices. When it came down to the preliminary pricing we asked about the gas stove. Mary turned to me and said that she needed a model number. Ummmm, uh huh. Where are the packages? If I had known that we had to come up with a model number I would have been researching this. Denise, the ever patient, every prepared real estate agent had her IPad with her and she quickly got me to the Whirlpool site and I chose one. We were told at that time that there would be a $400.00 upcharge for this. OK. After I got home I reasearched a little more and chose one that was another $400.00, but our upcharge went up $800.00. The current explanation is that they come with a one year warrantee and Drees has to build that into the price. Ummmmm, an appliance comes with a warrantee. Our plan to have them put in the gas line and we get our own stove won't work. They said that the county inspector and the appraiser would not pass a house that doesn't have a stove. Damn, it sounded like a good plan.

The tub is another issue. If this is a big time builder why don't they offer a 6' jetted tub? They told us to go to the website for their plumbing supplier. Don't go to the showroom for the plumbing supplier, that causes problem. I tried and tried to find what tubs this place carried. Robert tried and finally broke the code. I sent the link to Douglas and asked him to see if he could find what tubs they carry. It took him 5 minutes to find this, how does the average person do this. Or do "they" hope that if they make it tough we will give up and go with their standard tub. I got five manufacturers of whirpool tubs to look at, none of which have prices. Is this how most builders do this? And like the stove we cannot have them rough it in and we get the tub installed.

I may ask my contractor what has to be done to concrete so that vinyl can be laid. I want to see how much this prep actually costs.

Denise is trying to get some answers for us and we are really hoping that she comes up with something. She is going to be so glad to see us move in. I am trying to not be a pain, but I have so many questions. She is being very patient with us.

Cincinnati had another storm, another couple of days delay on the lots being finished. The asphalt plant doesn't open until mid March so there is time.