Welcome Olddog, Glad you pulled the trigger! We poured over our build sheet daily before our confirmation date, too. So exciting! For us, our
items that come to mind are:
-Front storage box (priceless...glad you are going with this)
-All 3 extra windows. (Love all the light and we frequently crack the bath and short stack window for ventilation at night)
-Awning windows (can use in rain) and thermal windows (decreases condensation)
-Reinforced bathroom wall (We installed a shelf, etc just the way we like on that wall)
-High axle lift (Peace of mind and helps protect the foam insulation underneath)
-Extra insulation (not only for temp control, but noise...very quiet inside)
-Outside access under dinette on both sides (Use both a lot)
-2 inside access doors under bed (very helpful)
-Propane quick connect (for BBQ/fire pit and propane generator)
-lots of USB and 12/V sockets (so handy to charge things)
-Electric awning (so far so good!)
....IMHO, we recommend getting all the custom/addition items you can afford!
As far as regrets, the only thing we wonder about not getting is the inverter. We never had one before and didn't realize the one ETI installs, powers not only smaller electronic things but... their microwave, as well (not the AC, but we knew that). Had we known it powered the microwave, we might have considered it for quick hot meals at rest stops and such. But for now, we are using a small portable inverter, mostly for laptops and leave the microwave at home when we go to places without hookups. (Wow, lots of extra storage in that cabinet without the microwave!)
One more thing... Our Sales Rep verbally told us (while we were visiting ETI before our confirmation date) that we would be getting the new style faucet. At that time, the maple interior had just come out and our Rep, for some reason thought we would be getting the new style faucet, even though we ordered the oak interior. Needless to say, we ended up with the old style faucet, understandably because there was nothing in writing about the new style faucet anywhere on our build sheet. However, we are perfectly fine with the old style faucet; works just fine. Our Sales Rep was super in every other way and this just wasn't that big a deal to us. We can always change the faucet later, if we decide to....
Bottom line, if you really want something, and ETI verbally agrees to it, be sure it's written down on your build sheet because, after your confirmation date, when your trailer goes into production they follow your build sheet with impressive accuracy!
Again, welcome to Escape World! Here's to many happy days in your future E21! - Bea