Options Overview
Options are fundamental features that allow builders to track upgrades, extras, and modifications to homes throughout the sales process. This overview explains the core concepts and how these pieces work together.
In this section, we will cover:
- Understanding Options and applied Options
- Applied Sales Option types and statuses
- Links to detailed guides for implementation and usage
How We Got Here
Your organization has projects with homes ready for sale, and you need to offer purchasers the ability to customize their homes with upgrades, extras, and modifications. Whether it's a kitchen upgrade package, a finished basement, or a parking stall assignment, Options provide a structured way to define what's available, while applied Options track what each purchaser has selected for their specific home.
Understanding the Core Concepts
Before diving into implementation, it's important to understand how these pieces work together:
Options
A Sales Option is a template that defines an available upgrade or extra. It lives at the project level and can be associated with specific models (Optionally). Options include:
- Name and Description — What the option is called and details about it
- Suggested Price and Cost — Default pricing that can be adjusted per deal
- Category — The type of option (General, Structural, Electrical, etc.)
- Model Associations — Which floor plans this option applies to
- Validity Period — Optional date range when the option is available
Applied Options
An applied Sales Option is an instance of a Sales Option applied to a specific deal (unit). When you add an option to a purchaser's home, you're creating an applied Sales Option that:
- References the original Sales Option
- Records the actual price and quantity for this deal
- Tracks approval status and workflow
- Can be modified independently of the original option
Applied Sales Option Types
| Type | Description | Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Internal | Standard options added during the initial deal creation | Options selected at time of sale |
| Late | Options added after the initial contract is executed | Post-sale upgrades or modifications |
Applied Sales Option Statuses
| Status | Description |
|---|---|
| Pending | Awaiting approval from authorized staff |
| Approved | Approved and ready for finalization |
| Denied | Rejected with optional reason |
| Finalized | Locked and included in final contract pricing |
Option Categories
Pluto Systems supports a variety of option categories to organize your offerings:
| Category | Description |
|---|---|
| General | Standard upgrades and extras |
| Structural | Changes affecting the building structure |
| Electrical | Electrical upgrades and additions |
| Plumbing | Plumbing upgrades and additions |
| HVAC | Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning |
| Appliances | Kitchen and laundry appliances |
| Flooring | Floor covering selections |
| Color Scheme | Interior and exterior finish selections |
| Parking Stall | Assigned parking spaces |
| Storage Locker | Assigned storage units |
| Landscaping | Exterior landscaping options |
| Security | Security system installations |
Some categories (Color Scheme, Parking Stall, Storage Locker) have special behavior in the system. See Special Option Categories for details.
Guide Navigation
This documentation is organized into the following sections:
For Administrators
- Implementing Options — Setting up and managing your options catalog in the Workbench
For Sales Staff
- Managing Options — Adding and editing options on deals
- Options Inbox — Processing approvals and custom requests
Special Topics
- Special Option Categories — Color Schemes, Parking Stalls, Storage Lockers, and other special handling
For Reference
- Client Portal Options View — What purchasers see
Best Practices Summary
Option Organization
- Use consistent naming — Establish naming conventions for easy searching
- Categorize accurately — Proper categorization speeds up workflows
- Maintain descriptions — Detailed descriptions reduce questions and errors
- Set validity dates — Use dates to manage seasonal or promotional options
Pricing Management
- Review suggested prices regularly — Keep pricing current with market conditions
- Document cost changes — Update costs when supplier pricing changes
- Use price history — Reference historical pricing for consistency
Approval Workflows
- Process Late Options promptly — Delayed approvals can impact construction schedules
- Document denials — Always provide reasons when denying requests
- Finalize before closing — Ensure all options are finalized before deal closing
Dashboard Integration
Applied Options appear in several dashboard panels to help you stay on top of your workflow:
| Panel | Description |
|---|---|
| Pending Late Options | Shows Late Options awaiting approval |
| Pending Custom Requests | Displays custom option requests that need to be processed |
| Options Activity | Real-time feed of applied Sales Option events across your projects |
Troubleshooting Common Issues
| Issue | Likely Cause | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| Option not appearing for a unit | Model association missing | Check the option's model assignments in Workbench |
| Parking stall shows unavailable | Already assigned to another unit | Check Parking & Storage management |
| Can't edit applied Sales Option | Already finalized | Finalized orders cannot be modified |
| Custom request won't complete | Missing required fields | Ensure all fields (name, price, cost) are filled |
| Price changes not saving | Insufficient permissions | Verify user has pricing modification rights |