Scottsdale buying guide · 15 / 20
A builder allowance gives you a number to work with, but the number alone does not tell you whether a different buying route is better. For a Scottsdale new home, first establish what the allowance includes and what your builder would change if you purchased selected materials separately. This worksheet turns that conversation into a realistic basis for evaluating HIBC Platinum.
Your home. A clearer way to buy.
Plan the whole home before you commit.
Bring your room-by-room materials scope and builder’s proposal. Let’s discuss whether Platinum fits the actual purchasing plan.
No payment or membership is required to make a request. HIBC is a buying program, not a remodeling contractor.
Read the allowance as a defined scope
Locate the allowance in the current signed proposal or contract and identify the category, quantities and included work. Is a kitchen figure for product only, or does it include installation? Are delivery, tax, decorative parts or accessories addressed? Ask the builder to explain unclear entries in writing before using them as a comparison baseline.
Separate an allowance from a fixed-price selection or an upgrade package. Do not assume those arrangements have the same adjustment rules. Record whether the document describes how actual selections reconcile with the allowance. An unused allowance is not automatically cash returned to you; the specific agreement and written clarification control the financial comparison.
Ask whether an alternate purchase is acceptable
Before you request a competing materials quote, ask the builder whether homeowner-purchased items are allowed for that category. Confirm any limitations, required submittals and approval dates. The builder may need to review the proposed specifications and installation responsibilities. Do not commit to a product on the assumption that the builder will accept it.
Ask how the alternate route affects product warranty contacts, handling, storage, installation and schedule responsibility. Identify any additional charge or contract adjustment. If you cannot get a clear agreement on a critical responsibility, leave that category in the builder route while exploring other decisions. A purchasing choice is useful only if it works with the actual construction arrangement.
Calculate the actual contract change
Use two totals. The builder route starts with the amount payable under the contract for the selected specification. The alternative starts with the revised builder contract after a confirmed adjustment, then adds the separate product purchase, membership and every remaining service or charge. Keep contingency and unknown costs clearly labeled in both routes.
For example, if the builder removes a product allowance but retains installation, the alternative should not subtract installation again. If no credit has been confirmed, label it 'awaiting written adjustment' rather than inserting the allowance as a credit. Compare the same quantities and quality wherever possible, and describe any intentional differences. A quoted product price by itself cannot establish the net project result.
Tie decisions to drawings and the actual site
Attach the exact drawing revision and product specification to the allowance comparison. Ask the builder which decisions affect openings, connections or work already planned. Then get the required decision date and the consequences of changing later. A cabinet selection can be aesthetically final while still awaiting technical confirmation or approved measurements.
For property within Scottsdale, discuss the city's permit process with the responsible project professional. Confirm jurisdiction, approved construction scope and any applicable association requirements before assuming a change is only a purchasing choice. The comparison sheet should identify who updates project documents when a selection changes; it should not make that technical decision for them.
Bring a reconciled allowance sheet to HIBC
The FTC's estimate guidance encourages comparison of written scope and price. Give HIBC the category specifications you are authorized to consider, plus the builder's written purchasing conditions. Ask which products can be quoted and which open inputs must be resolved.
Platinum can then be evaluated against your new-home materials plan and its complete costs. Confirm exact current benefits and eligibility; membership does not rewrite a builder contract or guarantee that alternate purchasing will be accepted. If the available scope is limited to a few kitchen or bath items, ask whether Gold or the existing builder package is a better fit. The strongest buying decision is one both you and your builder can describe the same way.
Allowance-to-alternative comparison
Use actual contract figures and written quotes. Keep unresolved credits and fees marked Unknown. This worksheet records your comparison; it does not amend a contract.
Copy these prompts into private notes. This worksheet does not collect or submit information.
01
Specification and quantity
- Builder route
- Current included or selected items
- Alternate purchasing route
- Matched items or explicit differences
02
Builder contract amount
- Builder route
- Amount payable for this scope
- Alternate purchasing route
- Revised amount confirmed in writing
03
Separate materials
- Builder route
- Already included or separately billed
- Alternate purchasing route
- Exact external quote
04
Installation and handling
- Builder route
- Included duties and charges
- Alternate purchasing route
- Retained duties plus additional charges
05
Membership and other fees
- Builder route
- Applicable actual costs
- Alternate purchasing route
- Applicable membership and outside costs
06
Net project comparison
- Builder route
- Complete known total plus unknowns
- Alternate purchasing route
- Complete known total plus unknowns
07
Acceptance
- Builder route
- Current signed scope
- Alternate purchasing route
- Builder approval and order-ready specification
Put membership behind a clear buying plan.
HIBC provides confidential wholesale buying access with no HIBC product markup. Independent showrooms provide design and pricing; your separately hired professionals handle installation and construction.
Gold · Kitchen, bath & flooring
Bring your room plans into focus.
$4,995
First year. From Year 2, the $495 annual renewal is optional and purchased separately. No automatic subscription or auto-charge.
Start with your itemized kitchen or materials quote. Compare the complete club purchase plus dues before deciding.
Platinum · New home & full-gut remodel
Consider the whole materials plan.
$24,995
One-time enrollment fee for projects requiring coordinated whole-home materials planning. Confirm the specific benefits, eligible purchasing scope and applicable continuation terms with HIBC.
A larger budget alone does not establish fit. Bring the room-by-room scope and your builder’s responsibilities.
Questions before your next step.
Can I deduct the entire allowance if I buy elsewhere?
Only use the adjustment the builder confirms under your agreement. A displayed allowance does not establish the amount of any credit or the treatment of related labor, fees or overhead.
Does Platinum guarantee lower costs than my builder's package?
No. Compare matching specifications, actual contract adjustments, membership costs and all separate charges. The result depends on the written quotes and arrangements for your project.
Turn the materials list into a membership conversation.
Share the rooms, specifications and builder handoffs you have in mind. Ask HIBC to confirm the Platinum scope that applies to your project.
Sources and planning limits.
Reviewed October 15, 2026. Confirm current product instructions, project-specific approvals and offer terms before ordering. This is buying guidance, not installation or legal advice. Source references do not establish a supplier relationship.
