Ask the developer for the name and number of a homeowner in the development who bought a home with the standard finishes. Call and ask if you can take a look. Before you agree to pay for upgrades, find out how much the developer will charge. Use a Buyer's Agent who specializes in new construction. Do some comparison shopping on your own to find out how much it would cost you to buy the upgrades yourself.
Some developers add a huge mark-up for upgrades.
If this is the case, you might be better off by having the home completed with the standard finishes and installing upgrades at your own expense later. Talk to homeowners who have purchased the developer's homes in the past to find out how responsible the developer is to taking care of customer complaints. Contact the City Hall in the community in which the builder is constructing and ask them about builder issues. Contact the Better Business Bureau and ask about the builders reputation. Making changes can be a nightmare depending on the development.