Frustrated with builder

[Anonymous]

I somehow bought a mantel without a fireplace because I was told mantels are standard. I was told it would have a black surround below to mantel, so I thought it would look good. Fast forward a few months after we signed off for upgrades, the sales lady says she made a mistake, and it's not standard. She thought we got a fireplace. She says they can still do it, but she thinks it would look weird. She says the surrounding part would be the same color as the wall, so I guess the mantel and walls would be different colors. We went with shell white for the walls. I am so frustrated because all this time, I was told it's standard, so I envisioned my living room to look similar to the model home. Because we didn't get the fireplace, which is 4k more, the walls wouldn't bump out. I also paid extra for an outlet placed in the center below the mantel so we can plug in an electric fireplace if we want. I went over all of this with the sales coordinator. She knew why I wanted the outlet. Now she's saying she thought the outlet was for a high tv, but that was a different price, and I said no, I didn't want the tv to be above the mantel. She said no one has ever had a mantle without a fireplace because it's not an option, but in the catalog, it looks like an option, and I was told the mantel is standard. I went for an upgraded mantel too! So if I didn't upgrade, they would owe me nothing. They aren't offering any picture of what it would look like. I am so bummed! I don't have 4.5 k or whatever the fee is to get a fireplace. Should I ask to put a firebox without fireplace? The sales coordinator wants this to all go away and we take the mantel upgrade off.

[Anonymous]

I think a mantel without a fireplace would look really, really weird. I would certainly cancel the mantel. You can always add one later if you wanted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think a mantel without a fireplace would look really, really weird. I would certainly cancel the mantel. You can always add one later if you wanted.

The way I was shown it would look didn't look wired. That's the issue. I'm so pissed. Totally changes the structure and look of my living room.

[Anonymous]

I would be livid. Why did it take them months to catch this?

[Anonymous]

If she says they can still do it, then what’s the problem? This is hard to follow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If she says they can still do it, then what’s the problem? This is hard to follow.

It will look different than what she said it would. It was supposed to have a surrounding black metal and a black landing. Now it's going to be a wall in the bottom part without a firebox.

[Anonymous]

What does the contract say?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What does the contract say?

It has an upgraded mantel, but there's no picture of what it will look like. It also says in the catalog that mantels are an option with an optional fireplace.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What does the contract say?

It has an upgraded mantel, but there's no picture of what it will look like. It also says in the catalog that mantels are an option with an optional fireplace.

There are different styles of mantels, and I upgraded from the standard one even though we didn't opt for the optional fireplace.

[Anonymous]

So it sounds like you must pay for the fireplace, or you don't get the fireplace. What am I missing here? I don't use my fireplace, so my vote would be not to get a fireplace (and obviously not get the mantel either).

Not really sure I understand the issue about the outlet because I don't get why a special outlet is needed for an electric fireplace.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So it sounds like you must pay for the fireplace, or you don't get the fireplace. What am I missing here? I don't use my fireplace, so my vote would be not to get a fireplace (and obviously not get the mantel either).

Not really sure I understand the issue about the outlet because I don't get why a special outlet is needed for an electric fireplace.

Otherwise, there will be cords coming from the corner of the room. Mantel is in between two windows. The sales coordinator told me a mantel was standard, and I upgraded from the standard mantel to a different one. That's the issue. Basically, I was told it would look like a game fireplace, and it won't. There were supposed to be black panels under the mantel with a black landing. Our realtor has spoken to her so I will see what he has to say tomorrow. It's hard as hell to know what your house will look like because the model house is upgraded to the max. They mind f you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So it sounds like you must pay for the fireplace, or you don't get the fireplace. What am I missing here? I don't use my fireplace, so my vote would be not to get a fireplace (and obviously not get the mantel either).

Not really sure I understand the issue about the outlet because I don't get why a special outlet is needed for an electric fireplace.

Otherwise, there will be cords coming from the corner of the room. Mantel is in between two windows. The sales coordinator told me a mantel was standard, and I upgraded from the standard mantel to a different one. That's the issue. Basically, I was told it would look like a game fireplace, and it won't. There were supposed to be black panels under the mantel with a black landing. Our realtor has spoken to her so I will see what he has to say tomorrow. It's hard as hell to know what your house will look like because the model house is upgraded to the max. They mind f you.

Fake fireplace

[Anonymous]

OP was this your first new house purchase?

Fireplaces are extra
Basically, the model is just that everything is pretty much extra. Windows, to ceilings to molding types and flooring etc...

We once bought a house without an oven hood. The salesperson did not explain that well and they charged $3000 extra for a basic Home Depot version. We said no because we thought she meant an upgraded one. Pain in the neck after moving in.

Depending on the builder you get x Y and z.

Models are deceiving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP was this your first new house purchase?

Fireplaces are extra
Basically, the model is just that everything is pretty much extra. Windows, to ceilings to molding types and flooring etc...

We once bought a house without an oven hood. The salesperson did not explain that well and they charged $3000 extra for a basic Home Depot version. We said no because we thought she meant an upgraded one. Pain in the neck after moving in.

Depending on the builder you get x Y and z.

Models are deceiving.

Op here. Yep. It's a townhouse. I understand that the fireplace is extra. I didn't want one. I was told everyone gets a mantel, and it has black panels below the mantel. I thought it was something builders do now, like a fake fireplace. I am originally from the south. Fireplaces aren't something I am into. I am used to being hot!

[Anonymous]

Op here. I am going to do the mantel without a fireplace. I'll figure out what to do under it later. I could put in an electric fireplace or candles or a basket or something. I am creative, and I'll figure it out. They'll let me do it even though it's not a real upgrade because of the mixup.