Pronounced / (abode): meaning —— beautiful home
What your builder doesn't explain, usually what ends up on your invoice.
Abeaud makes sure you're never the last to know.
We’re not builders, sales agents or developers - We've been through it & talk from lived experience.
We’re here to help you cut through the BS (building surprises).
Most building mistakes aren't made on site. They're made before you even break ground.
Start here.
make shift happen With the Right Tools
Miss something at handover… and you’ll pay for it later. Your PCI is your final chance to get it right.
👉 That’s where things get missed.
👉 And once you sign off… you lose leverage.
A 31-page, structured PCI guide to help you:
✨Instant PDF download
✨Printable A4 format
Your Ultimate Selections Planner - Instant PDF Download
This room-by-room planner walks you through every single selection - from façade to final styling - so nothing gets missed, rushed, or regretted.
Inside, you’ll map out:
✔ Instant download
✔ Printable A4 + digital-friendly
✔ Designed to work seamlessly with your builder
Rushed selections = expensive mistakes.
Many people believe a fixed-price contract means the price can never change.
Common reasons a builder may charge more include:
Unexpected rock, poor soil, fill, groundwater or engineering requirements discovered after signing.
Changes to plans, selections, upgrades or inclusions requested by the owner.
Additional works required by councils, certifiers or utility providers.
Delays in finance, selections, approvals or land settlement may result in additional costs.
New building regulations or compliance requirements introduced after signing.
Allowances for unknown works such as rock removal, retaining walls or service connections that end up costing more than estimated.
The Special Conditions attached to the standard contract is where you need to pay attention.
This is where builders quietly add extra rights, extended timeframes, price adjustment clauses and liability limitations that can completely change what you agreed to.
Can the builder claim extra time for -
🍒 Ask: How much extra time can they claim and what evidence is required?
Look for wording relating to:
🍒 Ask: What site costs are excluded from the contract price?
Some clauses allow the builder to stop work for:
🍒 Ask: When can the builder legally suspend construction?
Always read the Special Conditions. Then read them again.
This is one of the most important sections.
🔍 Look for:
🍒 Ask yourself:
Why it matters:
Many homeowners focus on build duration.
The builder focuses on Extension of Time clauses.
They're not the same thing.
A 180-day build can become much longer if EOTs are granted.
⚠ Read this section carefully.
🍒 Check:
In many cases, minor defects or quality disputes do not automatically entitle the owner to withhold payment.
The contract may instead require the owner to pay the stage claim and have defects addressed through the builder's defect rectification process.
Why it matters:
Many owners assume they can stop payment if they are unhappy with the quality of work.
Unfortunately, standard building contracts are generally designed to protect the builder's cash flow.
👉 If a stage has been substantially completed, withholding payment may place the owner in breach of contract and could result in interest charges, suspension of works, or further contractual consequences.
"I Didn't Come From
the Building Industry - I learnt through my building journey."
I'm Jessica - Founder of Abeaud, project manager, property consultant and author of She Builds.
But before any of those titles, I was a woman trying to build a home for her family.
I didn't create Abeaud because I spotted a business opportunity - but because I lived through the building process and saw how much homeowners aren't told.
Despite years of managing complex projects, budgets and timelines, I still found myself navigating vague answers, confusing contracts and decisions I wasn't fully equipped to make.
So I started taking notes. The questions nobody answered. The lessons nobody teaches. The things I wish I'd known before we signed.
While building our home, my husband Matt was diagnosed with brain cancer. Three months later, he was gone. Through grief, motherhood and construction, I kept documenting what I was learning.
Those notes became She Builds.
And She Builds became Abeaud.
She Builds
your guide to building with volume builders
Building a home will test your budget, your patience, and how much you’re willing to question what you’re told.
It’s also one of the easiest places to lose thousands without even realising it. This book exists to change that.
Inside, you’ll learn what most builders don’t explain.
Whether it’s your first build or your second, the difference between guessing and knowing is everything.
For the cost of this book, compared to the cost of getting it wrong…
it’s not even a decision. This is the guide you reach for before you sign anything.
And the one you’ll wish you had if you don’t.
