Contractor to install Hardwood

I need this info fairly quickly,,,
I'm in a process of deciding color options for my new house at the design center and wanted to see if I could get any recommendations on good sub-contractors who would install hardwood for me. I wanted to do the price comparason.... I know builder will charge more than if I'd finish it after the fact, but if it's only few thousand $, I may just do it thru the builder to minimize the hassel... Please let me know ~

 

How would this work? The builder won't leave the floors unfinished, will they? They will put something down on the floor -- likely the standard flooring (e.g., tile). Thus, you would have to have to the subcontractor rip up the stuff that the builder put in and then install your new hardwood floor. That seems costly and generally inefficient.

 

K - Not sure how much some freinds saved but they did what you are talking about. Builder options are generally not cheap. I think they saves something like $5K by having the base flooring put in and then having a company come in after the fact and install hardwood (including the rip up_
You should be able to get a rough estimate on a per square foot costs from a local store and then calculate what you would pay/save.