If you have or will have pets as well as kids, definitely buy a steam cleaner == probably $200-300 and well worth it. As one who recently installed wood, I wanted to point out that your options for wood flooring will never be greater than they are in a new build. Now, you builder might want to limit what they do or charge you a lot more for upgrades, but at least in theory, you will never again have as many options for types of installation, price, etc. Later on, you are stuck with the foundation, transitions and other factors. I couldn't put down the kind of solid floor I would have loved -- I was limited to engineered floors. If your foundation is not the same under the carpet, you could have issues if you want to later put hardwood in your family room. My utility room and bathroom tile were set in place, so the flooring has to match or transition to them. Rugs don't have to double your flooring cost -- we have bought 5 cine we put down the wood floors, ranging from $49 for a hall rug to $135 for a room sized wool rug on clearance at Marshall's and about $300 each for a couple of room sized rugs at Macy's. I know some folks use outdoor rugs inside, but they would not be soft for little ones sitting or playing on them. I have heard that some folks use polypropylene rugs and hose them down. I have a couple, they are very soft, but I have not cleaned them yet. The synthetic fibers should be easy to clean though -- and much easier than carpet fixed in place over a pad as pointed out. Anyway, I wish we had installed the wood when we bought the house (some of the wood replaced tile that was not properly patched in our kitchen remodel and some replaced carpet we installed and didn't wear well). If I ever had the opportunity to install wood from the get go, no doubt I would. Keep in mind that your builder and real estate agent will not live there and will not have to deal with making changes later. The only negative that matters in my mind is your DH and I would look at that is something for the two of you to talk about. Listening to other people about what you want can be an expensive mistake. I am sensitive to that right now because I let DH talk me into trim paint I didn't want twice (pick your battles) and we are redoing it all now because of those. More time than money in this case, but still....

I have to admit that I feel a bedroom is a good place to have wall to wall carpeting. It's just so much cozier, and I don't care what's in right now. Also, we don't have hardwood floors; what doesn't have wall to wall is tiled, but even if it were wood I'd have lots of area rugs. Since I had a spare Oriental rug I layered it on top of the carpet in the master, just to enjoy the color and pattern, since I'm definitely a "color" person.

well as to the weather issue...in our home in alaska we ripped out the carpet everywhere (20 year old carpet is so gross by the way...even if you think you're clean) and have hardwood. I would never go back to w2w. in washington we have w2w in many rooms in our victorian and it's all coming up eventually. I've gotten it out of four rooms and have...e gads too many to go but it's GOING! Carpets can be cleaned and removed as you wish...w2w never goes away and the dirt does build up. There's a reason that when you buy a house you get a "carpet allowence" (to change out someone elses carpet) and when you have wood it's written up as a bonus for value :) I'm also a barefoot girl at home (you get that way in alaska...no one wears shoes inside) as is my son. He does not like the wall to wall here either (he's 6 and has strong opinions on decor). He likes his "fuzzy rugs" (sheepskins) so much better!

Check out www.rugpadcorner.com for great information. I've used their pads for 3 years & am very happy with them.