BuildX · ADU Projects · Freetown, Massachusetts
A 900 Square Foot Freetown ADU, Built for Samantha
A real accessory dwelling unit BuildX designed and built on the Cardin family's Freetown property: one bedroom, one bath, an open kitchen the family always wished they had, and a way for a daughter who will always live in town to afford to.
as told by Cliff and Pam Cardin, Freetown homeowners
“Organized, dependable, and gave us vision.”
Cliff and Pam Cardin, asked to describe BuildX in three wordsThe Full Story“We worked with BuildX and Buz Artiano to design and build a 1 Bed, 1 Bath Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) at our home in Freetown, MA and we couldn’t be happier with the results! From the very first meeting, Buz and his team were professional, transparent, and detail oriented. They guided us through every step of the process from site work, excavation, and foundation all the way to framing, roofing, insulation, and finishes.
BuildX handled all the project management, permits, and energy compliance testing, which made the whole experience completely stress-free. Their communication was excellent we always knew what stage the project was in, and the crew kept the site organized and clean throughout construction.
The finished ADU came out better than we imagined. The craftsmanship is top-notch, and the new space feels both beautiful and efficient. The siding, trim, cabinets, flooring, and overall layout show real attention to detail.
If you’re looking for a Massachusetts ADU builder or custom home addition contractor, we highly recommend BuildX. Their design-build process makes everything simple, and you can tell they genuinely care about quality and customer satisfaction.”
Why did the Cardins build an ADU in Freetown?
Cliff and Pam's daughter Samantha is what Cliff calls a townie. She is involved in Freetown, and she will always live in Freetown. The problem was price. Housing costs made staying in her hometown on her own out of reach, and Cliff says plainly that is why the family went with this option. An ADU on their property lets Samantha live in Freetown at a cost she can carry, in a house that can be 900 square feet or less under the state law.
How did the Cardins choose BuildX?
Pam is the Facebook person in the family, and that is where she found BuildX. The team invited the Cardins to the facility, sat them down, went through the process, and showed them what the houses contain. They went through all of it with Samantha. They also met with a prefab company from Burlington, and the difference Cliff noticed was that the prefab company did not have the contractors lined up. BuildX had assembled a team, contractors, building design and architects together, which made the whole process easier.
“You drag that mouse and all of a sudden you've got instant change, and you're like, wow. It gave us that vision.”
Cliff Cardin, on the design meetingThe thing Cliff and Pam mention most is the design software. As changes were made, Buz dragged the mouse and the house changed on the screen in front of them. They did not have to imagine what it would look like. They saw it.
How was the plan adapted to the lot?
The family could not put the house where they first wanted it. Buz turned it on the lot, worked through the placement with Samantha, and they made it work. The layout inside is the open concept the Cardins always wished they had in their own home, especially in the kitchen. Every small problem that came up, Cliff says, ended up not being a problem at all.
What was the preparation like for the family?
At the time of the video the Cardins were in the preparation phase: cleaning out the shed, taking down fences, moving more stuff than Cliff thought he owned, and cutting a lot of trees. Pam cut trees. There was some anxiety about the unknowns, and the family's answer to it was that whatever came up, BuildX would be able to fix it or find the workaround.
Does 900 square feet feel small?
Not with an open plan. The kitchen, living and dining space is one room, which is the part of the design the Cardins wanted most, and the bedroom and bath take the rest. For one person who wants to stay in her hometown, 900 square feet built new is a full house.
What changes once Samantha moves in?
She stays in the town she is part of, in a new house, on her parents' land, at a price that was not available anywhere else in Freetown. Cliff and Pam get their daughter across the yard. The town keeps a resident who was never going to leave willingly.
Can an ADU keep an adult child in an expensive hometown?
Yes, and this is the build that shows how. The land is already in the family, so the cost of the house is the cost of the house, and a townie stays a townie. If your son or daughter wants to stay in a town they can no longer afford to buy in, bring that to the first call.
Thinking about an ADU in Freetown?
This home went from first shovel to finished in the town where you are thinking of building yours. Start with Freetown ADU rules, costs and permits, then see what an ADU really costs in Massachusetts.
Read the full Cardin family story for the long-form version, in the family's own words.
Every project starts the way this one did: a conversation about what you actually need. No pressure, either way.
Meet the builder
Buz Artiano
"My name is Buz Artiano, owner of BuildX. At BuildX we're more than a home builder. While building is what we do, the relationships that are created in the process are what drives our passion to transform your dream into a reality. That is why we strive to give a first-class experience to our clients by listening to their vision and then building their trust with a custom home design that matches their taste and lifestyle."