Opinions On Design Programs

hanco

I am looking into some design programs and can’t seem to find one that stands out from the others. I do mostly remodeling work, Kitchens, Baths, Basements, Decks, and additions. I would like a program where I could give my customer a virtual tour. Also price is a factor in my decision. Any direction would be appreciated.

__________________
Hanco contracting
Holland,pa

KentWhitten

http://www.contractortalk.com/f82/design-programs-37226/

welcome to the site.

__________________
If you correct your mind, the rest of your life will fall into place ~Lao Tzu

Custom Cabinetry - Portland, Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough, Kennebunkport, Yarmouth, Falmouth, Cumberland, Ogunquit, Maine

Salmon Falls Cabinetry

mark the coach

If you want a basic and inexpensive program consider Better Homes and Gardens. The investment is $150.00. It has a great D rendering tool that wows most homeowners. It also will prepare you for Chief Architect. I used it for Kitchens, Baths, Additions and Basements with alot of success. After I made the sale then I had the designer fine tune the details.

mark the coach

sutcac

10+ year Chief Architect user and I was going to suggest the same thing for getting your feet wet with the BHG software.

While I will say that a lot of the 3D viewing capabilities are great, the actual "tour" or "walk-through" tools in Chief are still rather limited and disappointing.

The new version of Chief is just now going into beta-testing and will likely be released in the spring or summer. Hoping for improvements in this area and improvements tend to trickle down to BHG.

But as a complete 3D modeling through to contract documents package, I think it's hard to beat for sophistication and overall ease of use in conventionally built residential and light commercial projects.

__________________
Bryce Engstrom: Architect A.I.A. & General Contractor
www.engstromarchitecture.com
www.central-coast-project-design-planning-guides.com
Chief to Kerkythea Training Videos

monticellohomes

I would agree with sutcac, I've recently started using Chief and it is very easy to use.

dave3717

I use the better homes and gardens interior designer program, it's ridiculously cheap $50-70. That works for me. This program is made by Chief Architect.

However if you want to really look like a professional it is definitely Chief Architect. I have a designer friend that uses it. When I really need a good working drawing and to impress a customer I always get him to do the design for me.

You may also think about outsourcing this type of thing to a designer. Drawing floor plans, especially to take someone on a 3D walk through is very time consuming. If you have the time great, if not consider outsourcing, you get the credit without working 20 hours a day.

KentWhitten

I don't want to sound like I'm beating a dead horse, but it's all in the program. I don't have first hand knowledge of CA, but I can tell you that the program I use does not take long to produce a walkthrough. It takes a little time to RENDER the walkthrough, but not much.

You mention professional and CA in the same breath. While I half way agree with this and I understand what you mean by it, I find CA more suited to GC's and builders and knowledgeable HO's. I don't personally see it nearly as "professional" as ACA, Revit, ArchiCAD, Bentley, Rhino, or Catia.

It's "adequate" and some people can really make it work for them.

__________________
If you correct your mind, the rest of your life will fall into place ~Lao Tzu

Custom Cabinetry - Portland, Cape Elizabeth, Scarborough, Kennebunkport, Yarmouth, Falmouth, Cumberland, Ogunquit, Maine

Salmon Falls Cabinetry

dave3717

Good points. Maybe I should have specified a little more. When we do a Chief Architect drawing we are normally not just drawing the bath or kitchen it will incorporate other rooms in the house for the benefit of a walk through.

Also when using it for a walk through it is a detailed walk through with lighting shadows, furniture pictures on the walls whatever will be there when we are done is included it the drawing. So it is time consuming in that regard.

I should also specify that when we do these intense drawings, we are selling that service it isn't by any means a freeby.

Chief also give separate drawings for plumbing, electrical, carpentry. Just about anything you want to break out, it is able to do.

Just my opinion, we all have one.

__________________
David Hawke
Website Development and Competitor Analysis
30+ Websites To Market Your Construction Business Free
www.marketing-velocity.com