I found the difference!

After writing my post this morning, titled "so what exactly is the difference," I realized that I really didn't know. I wanted to know. Sure, it's a bit late to consider other options, but I still wanted to know why so many people in our age group sign with Ryan Homes.
Before I begin I want to say that the Ryan Home my husband and I toured today was absolutely beautiful. The home was just over 3,000 square feet, had five bedrooms and two full, and two half bathrooms.
When my husband and I pulled into the model homes' driveway we did one of our favorite things. We pretended to be completely different people, living completely different lives. Can you tell we are married, have a baby, and live with the 'rents? :) 
The house was downright beautiful. Seeing the morning room in person was even more impressive than on paper. Then I became jealous for about half a second before realizing that other than the morning room, there was nothing else to be jealous over. In fact, actually, it made both my husband and I realize that our decision to build with Drees was the absolute right reason for us to make.
At the end of the tour, she handed me a couple pieces of paper. One was the list of top home builders in the area. Naturally, Ryan Homes was number one, but Drees Homes was number two. I gently asked what the difference was between Ryan and Drees. I liked the lady, she was honest. Her response was that Drees is a "custom builder, who tailors their homes around the personality and desires of their buyers." The question running through my head was "so Ryan doesn't?" The second piece of paper was the average sales price of homes in the area. Ryan Homes' builds their homes for approximately $60,000 less than what Drees Homes does. I admitt, I was a little concerned. Could we have gotten a bigger house, with more upgrades for the same price we paid for our Drees home? The answer is yes. We could have gotten the Ryan model home without the bonus room, but with all the other upgrades for the same price we paid for our Drees home. So, where is the extra money allocated when buying a Drees home?
It is all about being custom, and not just a big sided box. It is about having a custom look, and having the help of an architect, an engineer, a professional design consultant, and a team that is paid to help you achieve the house that is built to match your individual personality. None of which Ryan Homes offers.
I will forever be jealous of all the people who have that gorgeous morning room - but at the end of the day, I am over the moon about having a house that isn't just a big beige box.