Do you already have your floor plans to get quotes? It seems that if you like this builder, that you should still go through the normal bidding process between a few builders. When is the home show? Would the home show be done, and you moved in before the other builders estimate your home being done? Is it only for one home show? It really doesn't seem that there would be much room for discounts for you doing the home show. But maybe the perks would be worth it, such as the builder being overly cooperative with you, a group of designers coming in which would maybe give you decorating ideas, maybe they would even be available for help with paint selections? I haven't built yet, but have my land (larger acreage). While I like to save money (and my house budget is about 1/3 what you listed(not sure if that included land?), my goal is more to end up with 90% of what I want. (I say 90%, because I don't want to spend 10 years after building fussing about what I "should've done"!...I just want to be content and happy with my decisions). I guess where I am going with this is that it takes a long time to find land and make the decesions to get the Home/acreage you want. If having a home show with a builder doesn't get you the home that you want, but you saved 10%, then it isn't worth it unless you are planning to sell and hoping to profit. For us, the home is an important part, but we are also planning a pond, barn, garden, a forest full of trees and an orchard...the house better be (90%) right after searching 2 years for land, and planting trees that I won't harvest from for several years...even in my 30's, I can't redo this that many times. Choose the builder you want, then make the decision if you are comfortable doing the home show....could be a lot of fun! (Sorry for all the rambling, I read you post the other day, and it has been circling in my head for awhile!)

Frankly, for case goods, once you are going high-end you might as well go with a custom wood furniture maker. I've done that several times and obtained gorgeous, well-made (and American-made) pieces styled just as I wanted them and didn't spend as much as I would have had I bought the same kind of pieces from a high-end furniture maker. For example, John Landis Cabinetworks made my dining room table, chairs, and side piece and I was able to slightly shorten the distance between the seat of the chair and the top of table - and double the batting in the seat cushions - in order to address being short-waisted and not wanting to feel like I need to sit on a telephone book when I am at my own dining room table. If you want to see what was made for me go here http://www.johnlandiscabinetworks.com/diningroom.shtml and look under Brigham - the website shuffles through the pictures - when you click on cabinetry, I think mine is the second one - a cherry piece with slightly curved legs and no hutch (these pictures were taken when just built so pieces have darkened) and the table (plus one chair) is the third trestle table that scrolls through when you click on dining tables. This was the first trestle table he made and he used to have it named after me! But no more. Anyway, the furniture is gorgeous, very well-made, unbelievably comfortable (those chairs are what sold me - great, great, great lumbar support - I can never get my guests to leave!) and not as expensive as the "retail" prices on the website suggest.

I got some good quotes on Jeffco furniture from Madison at Lexington Furniture. I haven't purchased any yet, but when I'm ready to buy, I'll check with her again. I just looked at Lex's website, and Jeffco does not appear on their list of manufacturers, so maybe things have changed, but it's worth a try to contact them. Here is a link that might be useful: Lex List of Manufacturers

Your local furniture store does almost the same thing when you order with them, which is they take your order and have it delivered from the manufacturer's warehouse. Genuine online stores are very helpful with customers over the phone. If you are interested in purchasing online, depending on how much you are going to spend, give them a call. Look for a toll free number and ask tell them what you are looking for. A good online store will spend the time to find what you need and it is a great way for you to test out their customer service before you've ordered anything from them.