BUILDING YOUR NEW HOME WITH A VOLUME BUILDER?

Abeaud is your home-building sanctuary, created for women leading their build with confidence.

Where practical guidance meets intuitive wisdom—all in one place.

Everything you need to navigate your build - from choosing the right builder, understanding your contract to preparing for PCI.

Learn how to create calm and positive energies around your build from the very beginning.

Abeaud: pronounced / (abode): meaning — beautiful home. A beautiful home is not just aesthetic. It's energetic.

Your building roadmap - the early stages


Most building mistakes aren't made on site. They're made before you even break ground.

contract clauses you should not ignore

Disclaimer:
Not legal advice—just a guide to help you gain some contract clarity.

  • When Can a Fixed Price Contract Increase?

    Many people believe a fixed-price contract means the price can never change.

    Common reasons a builder may charge more include:

    🚩 Site Conditions

    Unexpected rock, poor soil, fill, groundwater or engineering requirements discovered after signing.

    🚩 Owner Variations

    Changes to plans, selections, upgrades or inclusions requested by the owner.

    🚩 Authority Requirements

    Additional works required by councils, certifiers or utility providers.

    🚩 Delays Caused by the Owner

    Delays in finance, selections, approvals or land settlement may result in additional costs.

    🚩 Legislative Changes

    New building regulations or compliance requirements introduced after signing.

    🚩 Provisional Sums

    Allowances for unknown works such as rock removal, retaining walls or service connections that end up costing more than estimated.

  • Special Conditions in Your building contract

    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.

    Key Special Conditions to Look For


    🚩 Extension of Time Clauses

    Can the builder claim extra time for -

    • Weather
    • Material shortages
    • Labour shortages
    • Delays from suppliers
    • Access issues

    🍒 Ask: How much extra time can they claim and what evidence is required?

    🚩 Site Cost Clauses

    Look for wording relating to:

    • Rock removal
    • Soil conditions
    • Retaining walls
    • Piering
    • Service connections

    🍒 Ask: What site costs are excluded from the contract price?


    🚩 Suspension of Works

    Some clauses allow the builder to stop work for:

    • Late payments
    • Approval delays
    • Other owner-related issues

    🍒 Ask: When can the builder legally suspend construction?

    Always read the Special Conditions. Then read them again.

  • EOT BUILDING CONTRACT CLAUSE

    This is one of the most important sections.

    🔍 Look for:

    • Weather delays
    • Material shortages
    • Labour shortages
    • Supplier delays
    • Council delays
    • Authority approvals
    • Access issues

    🍒 Ask yourself:

    1. Does the builder need to prove the delay?
    2. How many days can be claimed?
    3. Is there a process they must follow?


    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.

  • PROGRESS PAYMENTS IN YOUR BUILDING CONTRACT

    ⚠ Read this section carefully.

    🍒 Check:

    • When each payment is due
    • Whether payments are linked to construction stages
    • How long you have to pay
    • Consequences of late payment
    • Whether interest can be charged on overdue amounts


    🚩 Many HIA and MBA contracts require stage payments to be made once a stage has been completed, even if the owner has concerns about workmanship or defects.

    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.

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A woman who builds with intention and confidence creates more than just a home—she creates her sanctuary.
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Home building will test your patience before it rewards your heart — but with the right tools & guidance, even the hardest journey, can be be met with clarity and confidence.
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"I Didn't Come From
the Building Industry -
I'm building one that improves it."

"What drives me isn't building homes. It's helping people through the journey of building, right from the very beginning. To ask better questions, to not be afraid to rock the boat and to give them a chance to enjoy the building process."
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She Builds

your guide to building with volume builders

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.


Three years in the making,
She Builds is the first of its kind in Australia.

An in-depth, no-BS guide designed to take you from overwhelmed and unsure… to clear, confident, and in control.

Inside, you’ll learn what most builders don’t explain.

  • How to spot hidden costs before they hit.
  • How to actually understand your contract.
  • How to make smart decisions from the very beginning, not when it’s too late.

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.