Will your builder allow you to specify exact appliance models?

I don't know, my question is if anyone has had a builder that did or because of the way appliance models move and change it was not possible.

If your builder allows it I would spec everything down to the size light bulbs in what lamp. The more you can specify the less likely there is to be a surprise. Now if you are using a builder who does production or tract type subdivision homes you may not be able to. It will all depend on what your contract with your builder states.

What I did is added up all the appliances I wanted - easy to price things out on AJmadison or wherever - then told the builder I wanted $xk for my appliance allowance. This gives you flexibility if a new and improved model comes out, or you find a floor model for half off, etc. This got me within a few hundred of what I specified in the beginning.

[My builder wanted to deal with a local appliance store rather than buying things of AJMadison. Ostensibly this was for service and warranty issues, which I was willing to pay a little extra to have someone local in case something went wrong, and to keep the builder happy. I also suspect that he paid a different and lower price than they quoted me, but a local store should in general have prices only a little bit higher than online prices]

You could also consider adding to your contract that you are allowed to buy outside his suppliers if you decide to. I did this for a few things where the mark up of the local place was sort of ridiculous and service calls unlikely (toilet paper holder for $20 instead of $40, etc).

@mrspete, we're also doing an all cash build. The one bid we have so far includes $20k for appliance allowance. We're also paying an interior designer to assist with selections for the entire house, so I thought it was unfair to have to pay the GC his fee on something he's not going to be helping select nor purchase. On top of that, he's bid $2,500 for a professional appliance installation service. We're still waiting for a second bid, but either way will definitely ask to have the allowance placed "below the line", so it's not counted into the GC fee.

I sent my builder a list of what I'm thinking of right now so he can price out the house for us.

I kept appliances out of the contract but my builder (can I use that word anymore?) wanted to know the actual appliance choices because certain ones (like the vent hood) have particular installation requirements that have to be known. Also I was using a slide in range. They are all a little different. Some you need a thin strip of your countertop behind them to close the gap between the back of the range and the wall, others do not. Widths can vary slightly and for that built in look the cabinet maker needs to know the exact width.