Tom Cops had 25 years of construction experience as co-owner of Cops Construction when he decided he wanted to launch a business with a very specific focus.
“He felt called to take on the mission to help families take care of their loved ones,” says Greg Cops, Tom’s son.
Greg says he and his dad sat around the kitchen table and talked about Tom’s calling and considered a construction business that would retrofit homes for senior living or for families who have members with disabilities.
Where Tom landed was creating Linked Living Homes, which focuses primarily on home additions that are sometimes called “granny pods” or, in zoning language, “accessory dwelling units.”
Initially, Greg says they thought the business would construct modular additions with standard designs. As time has gone on, however, they found that is not always practical and even the modular additions are customized. Today, about half the additions are stick built and half are modular.
In 2019 — Linked Living’s first year — it constructed three additions. There has been steady growth, and in 2024 the company built 18.
Greg says multigenerational living is a growing trend and communities are looking for flexible answers for housing.
Linked Living mostly serves customers within two hours of Appleton. The process typically involves a customer touring a model home at Linked Living’s Appleton facility. They sit with staff and talk about design options and price ranges. Cops says that helps build a relationship with the customer.
“You have to have a lot of trust in your builder,” Greg says.
The next step is meeting with the customer on the build site and finalizing the project and costs. Linked Living handles the permitting process, and projects take two to three months to complete.
The additions range in size from 280 square feet to 1,500 square feet and typically, but not always, include a bedroom, bathroom and kitchenette.
The company’s size (eight employees) and tight focus have helped it weather challenges with rising material costs and shortages.
Greg says it is rewarding to hear from customers who appreciate the work. Customers often share the benefits of living with their families and being able to care for loved ones.
“The mission is why we exist,” Greg says. “We’re just trying to enable families to take care of their loved ones, and the way that’s developed is home additions.”
