Maintaining customer satisfaction is a crucial aspect of any business, but it’s even more important for kitchen and bathroom contractors that have earned the prestigious Diamond Certified award. In addition to its Diamond Certified status, Pacheaco Construction upholds its reputation for customer satisfaction by providing a team of architects and designers who ensure each project maintains a proper balance of aesthetics, function and cost. “When we’re doing a whole house remodel, we can often improve the home by doing things like rearranging the floor plan,” explains owner Mark Pacheaco. “We plan extensively, so there are few surprises or additional costs once we start work.”

For the last two decades, Pacheaco Construction has been providing high-quality construction services for homeowners in the East Bay and Santa Clara County. The firm primarily focuses on residential remodeling and additions, but it also handles tenant improvement work for commercial clients. “We do just about anything residential,” says Mr. Pacheaco, who spent six years learning the construction trade before establishing his own company in 1990. “Our work speaks for itself.”

Unlike larger construction firms that place less of an emphasis on customer communication than completing work as fast as possible, Pacheaco Construction keeps each client informed about project happenings on a daily basis. “We’re very forthcoming with our customers,” confirms Mr. Pacheaco. “We set a timeline for each job and stick to it. It’s a rare event when we take longer than we originally projected.”

Another distinctive characteristic of Pacheaco Construction is its highly trained and experienced employees, many of whom have been with the company for years. “If I’m not on a jobsite, my employees are always ready to answer questions and assist the homeowner in any way possible,” says Mr. Pacheaco. “We’ve been in business long enough to recognize the employees that do excellent work and adhere to our high standards for customer service. All our people are top-notch.”

Take simple steps to expand the overall look and feel of your kitchen. On average, the kitchen remains one of the smallest rooms in the American home (a small kitchen is defined as 150 square feet or smaller). If your kitchen fits this description, consider the following tips to make it look more spacious without committing to a full-scale remodel:

Implement unique storage solutions. Install high pantry cabinets to eliminate extra-small cabinets. Add pullout shelves, rotating inserts and tilt-out bins to increase accessibility and storage within the cabinets. Light colored cabinets, open shelves, wire organizers and glass-front doors will help lighten the space. Also, by adding more open display shelves and cabinets, the room will appear greatly expanded. Too many cabinets, especially made of dark materials, will give the illusion that the room is much smaller.

Choose appliances wisely. There are numerous high-efficiency appliances that will provide you with the same luxuries as people with large kitchens. Try to keep your cook top and oven in the same area to save valuable counter space. Have microwaves built into the cabinetry to increase counter space. Keep all small appliances stored in either an appliance garage or pantry to maintain a clutter-free workspace.

Magnetize. Items such as cooking utensils, spices, manual can openers and towel holders all come in magnetic styles that can be attached to a simple piece of metal and mounted to the wall, which frees up counter space.

Maintain a mix of natural and ambient lighting. A skylight will open the ceiling to more light and raise a portion of the ceiling, visually expanding the space. Bay or greenhouse windows create an open feel. Natural light should be complemented by ambient and task lighting to provide the same feeling at night.

Add a personalized touch. Display small, simple items that add a personal touch without creating a feel of clutter. Too many displays will cause the kitchen to look much smaller, but the right amount can add warmth and provide the illusion of a larger space.

Donate items you don’t use anymore. You can gain storage and counter space by getting rid of little-used specialty items such as popcorn makers, ice cream machines, deep fryers, waffle irons, rice cookers and iced tea brewers.

Q: Do you maintain a clean jobsite?

A: Yes. We respect our clients’ homes and understand they don’t want to find a mess when they come home from work. We clean up at the end of every work day and take careful precautions to contain dust.

Q: Will your crew be on the job every day?

A: Absolutely. Aside from waiting for building inspections, something will be happening on your job every day.

Q: Do you maintain your schedules?

A: Yes. It’s rare that we take longer than promised. If we fall behind, we usually work weekends to catch up.

Q: How do you handle change orders?

A: Our standard contract details common conditions that could add to the cost, such as faulty electrical wiring and dry rot. It also explains the rates we charge for different types of work and includes an allowance for unexpected conditions.

Q: Are your employees and subcontractors trustworthy?

A: Absolutely. All our employees are family men and long-term employees, as are most of our contractors. In 20 years, we’ve never had a security incident involving an employee or subcontractor.