Preparing your building contract
The pros are prepping the addendum
It’s addendum time! For this stage we bring in some seriously remarkable talent — our contracts team. They’re a group of highly trained specialists (not intentionally sounding like Money Heist, but we’ll take it) who jump in to prepare all the documentation that forms part of your construction contract. Their job? Making sure every detail of your new home is properly documented before construction begins.
What exactly is the addendum?
Let’s start at the beginning.
The addendum is the document that captures all of your home’s selections and inclusions — things like air conditioning, roof coverings, door hardware, fixtures, and finishes. In short, it’s the detailed list of everything that will be included in your build. This document sits alongside your building contract, and together they form the full agreement for your new home. Not only does it confirm exactly what will be built, it also ensures the design and specifications comply with planning and building regulations.
A building contract to match your build
And just like your home, the documentation is built in detail.
The addendum isn’t exactly a quick read — it’s packed with information. Inside you’ll find row after row of inclusions, each broken down into individual line items so everything is crystal clear.
Here’s a quick example so you know what to expect. Under the heading Face Bricks, you might see something like:
Face bricks – No item chosen*
Mortar joints – Rolled Joint with Cream Mortar
Bond type – 1/3 Bond
Meter box – Combination Meter Box Electric/Gas
*Any materials already selected will be noted, while items marked “No item chosen” will be completed after your selections appointment, once your flooring, colours and finishes are confirmed.
This is just a small peek at what the full addendum includes. In reality, the document can run to around 20 pages, covering everything from engineering requirements to insulation and finishing details.
It’s detailed for a reason — the clearer the documentation, the smoother the build.
Let’s take a look inside
Here’s a sample of the sections typically included in an addendum.
Our contracts team certainly earn their keep pulling all of this together:
- Engineering
- Earthworks
- Concrete slab
- Termite protection
- Face bricks
- Internal brickwork
- Aluminium windows and sliding doors
- Timber joinery
- Roof construction
- Metal fascia
- Roof plumbing
- Roof cover
- External wall finishes
- Dry lining
- Ceilings
- Timber mouldings
- Doors
- Door hardware
- Plumbing
- Stormwater disposal
- Appliances
- Electrical
- Cabinetry
- Shower screens
- Mirrors
- Painting
- Paving
- Garage floor finish
- Floor coverings
- Window treatments
- Insulation
- Robe systems
- Garage sectional door
It’s a big list, but every section helps ensure your home is built exactly as planned.
The ultimate commitment
We know it’s a lot to commit to — especially when you discover you’ll be signing off on each section.
But when it comes to building a home, thorough documentation is essential.
That’s why we include a few built-in assurances to give you peace of mind, such as:
- structural warranty protections
- a maintenance period after completion
- a clearly agreed construction timeframe
These commitments help ensure the home you’re building is designed to stand the test of time.
Making a milestone out of paperwork
Once the documentation is finalised, it’s definitely worth celebrating. Think of it like finishing a very long novel — satisfying and a little bit impressive.After preparation, the documents are returned to you for final review and approval. A quick tip from the pros: grab your favourite drink, find a quiet spot with good lighting, and take your time reading through each page carefully. This is one of the most important stages in your building journey, so it deserves your full attention.
*Maintenance periods and contract terms apply to homes built under a Preparation of Plans Agreement (PPA) and may vary depending on contract dates and project specifics.
