Well my pictures posted in the wrong order, but I think you get the point. Here’s a picture from the other side of that half wall.

Talk to the builder. Changes are generally better made during the initial construction. The builder is the one that has to deal with the changes and will determine if they are part of the semi or the custom. Your best chance is if the budget is not an issue.

Advice on how to approach the builder? This is hardly such a complex or sensitive matter. Just talk.

Well I’m all for talking but most have told me they are not open to changes so I trying to get my game plan together first to increase my chances of a better outcome!

Rebecca, it sounds like you are a planner and are wise to plan your ideas in advance. As others have indicated, each builder is different and it is difficult to say until you approach and ask the question.

I would tell your builder exactly what you posted here: that you'd like to do some modifications and wonder if he would be willing to

a) make the modifications himself. Can he provide you cost after you provide plans?

b) build the home so that your future modifications would be easier to incorporate. What would the cost be?

You'll need more specifics for the design of the built-ins and expanded bath in order for him to give you specific costs. You can tell him upfront that you realize that and you will provide him with plans. Make sure you get professional plans. Otherwise, a lot can be lost in communication.

Does that help you?

All of the above we can’t answer for your builder but wish you good luck in your new adventure

Building a home is both exciting and nerve wracking at the same time. We built our home and wanted our shower in the MB enlarged too. Since none of the major framing had been done it was no big deal. So unless they are really strict about changes it shouldn't be a problem. This is your home so make sure you get things the way you want BEFORE it's too late - trust me. There are some things I didn't get done because I was too "afraid" to tell the contractor I wanted to change things. It may cost a little extra now but it will definitely cost a lot extra later. For the built ins, you will probably have to pay extra but again, if you talk to them you may be able to swap out that cost for something else.

Agree with Virgil and will add some comments to benefit other who might want to do a similar thing. As a negotiation tactic, your advantage was before you signed the contract. I would have done a hard close, saying I will sign the contract today if you agree in writing to add x, y and z. Of course, you had to be willing to walk away if they didn't agree!

My parents have built 3 homes with production builders. They are persistent and polite and have managed to get a few changes done, ahead of signing, but it isn't easy. Also, even if the sales manager gets an approval, I guarantee that it will not get passed down correctly to the subs and you will have to remind them constantly and micromanage when they get to that stage.

This issue must be regional. I have never heard of a builder who does not allow changes. My DH and I are residential lot developers. We often have spec homes built. I have had changes made with every house. I would not a consider a builder who does not do this.

Production builders are notorious for being inflexible with changes after the contract signing. If you are working with another type of builder (not production) then you should be okay going in now to get the changes made - but do it right away. And, as said above, be polite but persistent.

Ask that the support column be the ONLY thing at that spot. LOSE the half wall and do this post closing, with a custom wood worker.

The advantage will be possibly even a re think as to if you even need or want a "wall" and if you do want something more open, or would rather have built in storage on BOTH sides, you can create what you want. You won't get much that isn't cheesy from the "no changes" variety of builder. Just leave the half wall OUT in entirely is my advice. Just ask for the ( necessary) load bearing support. do as you like after, inclusive of any trimming.

Point is the builder will NOT give your inspiration with quality, and you will pay out the gazoo to get less than you really want. : )

Enough money, and the builder will likely consider changes even though his policy is to not do changes. In other words, instead of paying the usual 200% markup, if you offer 500%, he’ll probably strongly consider letting you do what you want.

Looking more at the the room layout, as Jan pointed out, I would have a designer help me rethink the entire layout.. For example, you might consider the dining room in the back and a larger living area where the current dining/sitting area is. This is an easy fix that involves mostly changing lighting locations.

It depends on where the kitchen is.

Honestly, that sitting area in the front will not get much use, I predict.

Right now, the space is broken up, in an era where open-concept is very popular. As Jan pointed out, you might consider removing the wall altogether (although it looks like a load-bearing wall and you may not be able to lose the header or column. (However, this can creatively be disguised by adding additional column/s to turn the functional column into a design element.)

Don't fret about what you should have done. You are where you are right now and this can still be fixed.

You are stuck with the load bearing post . I guarantee they will not budge on that . The half wall in between? It bears no load. The header? You are stuck with that as well, it's a carrying beam. This level of builder will NOT make an adjustment of that sort at all for any amount of money. Trust me, I have tried.

Just ditch the half wall, advantage is continuous flooring . Come back at it with your own design, and a far better execution than you will get with this builder. That's a guarantee. Sophie is correct in the elevated price to do your bidding, it just won't look like your inspiration..

The windows, trim and mill work in your "blue" photo tell me everything I need to know about the builder.

Thanks everyone. We decided to hold off on the half wall and just live with it for a while. I will still tell the construction manager our plans and take a look at what is going behind the drywall before they close it up. As for removing it all together, I know complete open concept is the trend, but we actually like a little separation. You can’t tell it from this picture, but that back room is completely open to the eating and kitchen area which is all the openness we need or want!

We are still pushing for the master bath change, but worst case are going to keep the design simple and can change it later. The reason we did not push these harder before signing is because we negotiated a very large discount thanks in part to the Holiday timing, and felt that this large discount was more important than these design changes.

Lastly, per a couple of the comments about the quality of the builder apparent in the pictures, you are right, we went with a lower-end builder to get a whole lot more for our money and intend to add some of the special design touches on our own later, i.e. millwork. This is a second home for us and budget is limited. I appreciate the feedback.

I should have also added, we live in Florida, where a lot of woodwork is quite uncommon and strongly discouraged when building. I don’t actually recall seeing a single house with window casings, real wood floors, or crown molding, etc. At least not under $1m!