Family-run tiny home company coming to Suncook Village

The Sunapee 384 is a cozy, 384-square-foot studio designed for simplicity and comfort. 

The Sunapee 384 is a cozy, 384-square-foot studio designed for simplicity and comfort.  Courtesy of Kinstruct Tiny Homes

The Sunapee 288 is a modern, minimalist retreat designed for those who seek simplicity and connection with nature. 

The Sunapee 288 is a modern, minimalist retreat designed for those who seek simplicity and connection with nature.  Courtesy of Kinstruct Tiny Homes

Jessica and Mark Stevenson of Kinstruct Tiny Homes of Suncook inspect their latest accessory unit at a home in Northwood on Tuesday, December 17, 2024. The unit is a two-bedroom attachement to an existing home.

Jessica and Mark Stevenson of Kinstruct Tiny Homes of Suncook inspect their latest accessory unit at a home in Northwood on Tuesday, December 17, 2024. The unit is a two-bedroom attachement to an existing home. GEOFF FORESTER—Monitor staff

Jessica and Mark Stevenson of Kinstruct Tiny Homes of Suncook inspect their latest accessory unit at a home in Northwood on Tuesday. The unit is a two-bedroom attachement to an existing home.

Jessica and Mark Stevenson of Kinstruct Tiny Homes of Suncook inspect their latest accessory unit at a home in Northwood on Tuesday. The unit is a two-bedroom attachement to an existing home. GEOFF FORESTER / Monitor staff

Jessica and Mark Stevenson of Kinstruct Tiny Homes of Suncook.

Jessica and Mark Stevenson of Kinstruct Tiny Homes of Suncook. GEOFF FORESTER—Monitor staff

By RACHEL WACHMAN

Monitor staff

Published: 12-24-2024 1:31 PM

When Jessica and Mark Stevenson sought to build an accessory dwelling unit on their property for Mark’s mother, who had been living in their home, they encountered a series of logistical steps to follow for town approval of the structure.

With Jessica’s real estate background and Mark’s construction expertise, they knew more than most families going into the process but still realized how challenging it can be for to navigate. Last November, the couple, along with Jessica’s brother, Dylan Figelski, decided to take their experiences and create a company to help others looking to build accessory dwelling units – which fall on properties that already have a primary dwelling – and tiny homes – which can stand alone on the property. Thus, Kinstruct Tiny Homes was born. The company serves people around the state with plans to open an office in Suncook Village around halfway through the coming year.

“There’s definitely a lot of other families who have parents who want to age in place,” Jessica said. “Maybe they have older children that are trying to break into the housing market and they’re having a really difficult time getting offers submitted and things like that. An accessory dwelling unit solves all of those problems. So we thought, why not create a company that helps families, from start to finish, create this second dwelling on their property that’s allowed?”

Kinstruct strives to alleviate the stress and uncertainty people can face throughout the process of getting property assessed, bringing their projects to their town boards, and constructing a dwelling.

“There’s a lot that goes into it, so a homeowner might think, ‘Well, where do I start? Do I talk to the town? Do I call an architect? Do I need an engineer? How do I permit this? Where does my septic get affected? Where do I put my well? Do I get my own electric meter? There’s hundreds of questions that pop up when you’re thinking about taking this journey,” Jessica said.

Different towns have different regulations around permitting for accessory dwelling units and tiny homes. Jessica explained that some municipalities require accessory dwelling units to be attached to the primary dwelling, whereas in other places the units can be detached.

“Sometimes you just go straight for your building permit,” she added. “Sometimes they want you to sit in front of the planning board and state your case and notify the neighbors.”

This range of regulations and processes contributes to the reason her family started their business since they know firsthand how overwhelming it can feel to embark on such a project.

Article continues after...

Yesterday's Most Read Articles

Database: Outside of private school, here’s how EFA families spent their money
Federal agents checking on immigration status of workers at Concord restaurant
Ulta Beauty, Boot Barn, Five Below slated for Capitol Shopping Center
‘Not my president’: Hundreds swarm to Concord to protest Trump (again)
Inside EFAs: From books to skiing, here’s how homeschooling families spend their Education Freedom Account dollars
Ayotte’s budget has $15 million to do something – upgrade? replace? enlarge? – to Cannon Mountain’s aerial tram

“We don’t ever want someone to feel so overwhelmed that they give up,” Jessica said.

So far they have completed projects in Manchester, Dover, and Sandown, with ongoing construction at properties in Windham, Jefferson, Northwood, and Merrimack. Mark and Dylan spearhead most of the construction. All of their structures are made to fit the properties and families they serve, with no dwellings either on wheels or pre-manufactured. They source materials locally and try to support small businesses as much as they can.

“Most of the lumber comes from Benson’s Lumberyard in Derry and Londonderry,” Mark said. “As far as the other products, if we’re getting tile, we will use, like a tile company in town, or same thing with cabinets, we’ll try to use Benson’s or another local facility around here.”

He enjoys the freedom that comes with leading his own construction projects and working with his wife and brother-in-law.

“It’s definitely a little bit of a career change,” said Mark, who has devoted himself to Kinstruct in a full-time capacity. “It’s been great. I’ve loved it so far. I like getting with the families and talking about their plans and their visions at their properties.”

As Mark and Jessica balance their new company, which turned a year old last month, with parenthood and other responsibilities, they continue to derive joy from bringing people’s tiny house and accessory dwelling unit visions to life.

“When you choose to work with us, you’re working with our family. So that’s how we treat you,” Jessica said. “I don’t feel like necessarily all the time that this is work, because it’s what we love, and that makes all the difference.”

The Kinstruct team finds fulfillment in getting to know families and assisting them throughout the process. They conduct free site visits and can help people determine what sort of dwelling best fits their properties and their needs.

“We want to talk to people,” Jessica added. “We want to know what people need. We want to learn about people’s families. We want to know how we can help them in their housing needs. And if it’s an ADU, amazing, and if it’s not, that’s okay. We probably have another resource that we can send them to for help, because we have such a great network of people here in New Hampshire that we’re able to utilize.”

The family looks forward to finishing construction on their Suncook Village office space and moving into the area to help serve people in a more centrally located place.

“It’s fun that we are actually doing our part in making a little dent in helping to solve New Hampshire’s housing crisis, because even if it’s a small dent, at least we made one,” Jessica said.

For more information about Kinstruct Tiny Homes, visit kinstructtinyhomes.com.