The Dino Files
Real Lessons From 50 Years on the Jobsite
The Homeowner's Question
Can I save money by buying my tub, appliances, cabinets, or other materials before I hire a remodeling contractor?
The Short Answer
Usually, no.
One of the biggest mistakes homeowners make is purchasing materials before the design is complete. It seems like a great way to save money or take advantage of a sale, but without a finished design and accurate measurements, expensive mistakes can happen.
The Dino File
The Situation
Years ago, we were remodeling the master bathroom of a two-story home in Irvine. Before hiring us, the homeowner purchased a beautiful oversized Jacuzzi tub because he thought he was getting ahead of the project.
What Happened
When it was time to install the tub, our crew carefully carried it upstairs.
It wouldn't fit.
Not because the bathroom was too small, but because the tub couldn't make the turn up the stairwell. The combination of the staircase, ceiling height, and turning radius made it impossible to get the tub to the second floor.
The homeowner had to purchase another tub that fit.
Fortunately, he understood the situation, and later trusted us to remodel his kitchen as well.
A freestanding tub like this one still has to make it through your front door, up the stairs, and around every corner before it reaches the room where it will live.
The Lesson
Most homeowners look at the finished product.
We have to think about everything that happens before the finished product exists.
A beautiful tub in a showroom still has to make it through your front door, up the stairs, around corners, and into the room where it will live.
The same thing can happen with oversized refrigerators, custom vanities, large windows, and specialty appliances.
That is why every Tuscany Builders project begins with design.
What Dino Says
“You really can't make purchases without a design and accurate measurements. There are obstacles homeowners simply don't think about until it's too late.”
— Dino Presutto
Before You Spend a Dollar...
Before purchasing cabinets, appliances, plumbing fixtures, or specialty materials, complete the design first.
A finished design answers important questions:
- Will it fit?
- Will it function properly?
- Does it work with the overall layout?
- Can it actually be installed?
Good design protects your investment before construction ever begins.
Thinking About Remodeling?
Every successful remodel starts with a thoughtful plan — not a shopping cart.
If you're considering a kitchen, bathroom, room addition, outdoor living space, or whole-home remodel in South Orange County, we'd be happy to help you understand what's possible before you spend a dollar on materials.