Retirement, Friendship, and a Big Lot in Harwich

Annie’s Home in Harwich, MA | 783 sqft 1-bed 1-bath

A Shared Vision for Aging in Place 

Retirement often brings a big question: "Where to?" For one homeowner, the answer wasn't a crowded condo or staying in an urban center. It was about moving closer to a best friend.

Annie’s friend Katie had a large lot in Harwich, MA. Together, they hatched a plan: build an ADU. It was the perfect way to support each other as they aged, while both maintained the privacy of their own four walls.

"My best friend and her husband have a large lot... and we talked and agreed that I'd build an ADU there so we could support each other as we age." - Annie Newman

Annie’s Living Room

Annie’s Eat-In Kitchen

The Challenges

Before landing on a backyard home, Annie looked at buying a local condo. However, having lived in one, she knew she didn't want to be that close to neighbors. The ADU offered a middle ground, though it came with its own set of worries:

  • Affordability: Could a custom build fit my budget?

  • The "Red Tape": Would the town even allow it?

"I realized I didn't want to live in close proximity to a lot of strangers." - Annie Newman

The Process

Annie has a background in construction, so she didn't want to be just a spectator. She worked alongside Tim and the Backyard design team to make sure every detail of the layout was exactly right.

  • Smart Layout: Annie prioritized placing the bedroom away from the road and specific door locations.

  • Heavy Lifting: We handled the messy parts—tearing down an old building on-site, managing the new septic system, and getting the foundation poured.

  • Set Day: The crane arrived, the modular "boxes" were lifted into place, and the roof system was buttoned up in what felt like a blink.

"The setup of the crane seemed to take the most time; setting the boxes was fairly quick. The roof system is very clever, and I was impressed at how quickly the team buttoned everything up." - Annie Newman



The Result

Day-to-day life has shifted in the best way possible. Annie has her own space to age in place, her best friend Katie is right next door, and Annie is officially a local in a community she loves.

Annie’s Office

What we learned for next time: No project is without its "hiccups." We’re working with Annie to fix a stubborn toe-kick heater and some mischievous drywall screws that “decided” to back out. Annie also gave us a great tip for future homeowners: ”If you’re using low-VOC paint, wait a little longer before putting plants on those windowsills!”

"Backyard ADUs did all the hard work—permitting, septic design, etc. Other than buying my appliances, it was a complete turn-key project. I couldn’t be happier." - Annie Newman

Key Takeaways

  • The Goal: Support a best friend while staying independent.

  • The Build: A modular home in Harwich, MA.

  • The Best Part: Annie got to sit back and watch during permitting, septic design, construction, etc., and could be hands-on for the part that she wanted, design.

Homeowner StoriesAlexis BellasHarwich, MA, ADU, Aging in Place, Square