DIY home design software

[gocards1177]

I have a non-tractor question: Can anyone recommend DIY home design software? My wife and and I have a homesite on our land and would like to build this year. We weren't able to find the right home online or in the plan books. We tried going through an architect but werent satisfied and that ran into BIG $$$. We've been trying to sketch out what we have in mind with pencil on grid paper, but I'm worried about fixture sizes and rooflines. I've seen software available that should do what I want, but was hoping to get some firsthand advice from someone with experience.

Also, thanks for all the advice last fall on tractors to everyone that replied. I ultimately decided to wait until this year or when we move out to our land, whichever comes first.

Thank,
Nathan

 

[KennyG]

None of them are as easy to use as advertised and will require a little more learning time than you might be led to believe. I have used the Better Homes and Gardens Designer Suite for a couple of remodels and found it to be worth the cost and effort.

 

[gocards1177]

Thanks for the input. I used google sketchup for our driveway bridge. Considering it for the house.

 

[oldnslo]

I used a product called High Design by Ilexsoft on my IMac for doing the floor plans etc on my addition. Came preloaded with the basic furniture, sinks, cupboards, windows, doors, etc. I am not sure if they make a version for windows/IBM PC's or not. I decided on this version since it was compatible with Auto-Cad dwg and dxf file formats. It will export as a pdf. Like kenny D stated they do require a learning curve and are not the same as using a full blown ACAD system.

Good luck on your design, only took took me about umpteen dozen trys..

Roy

 

[bearhawk]

Have you looked at Create floor plans, house plans and home plans online with Floorplanner.com

 

[dstig1]

Chief Architect is really very good, but it is not cheap. It isn't mega bucks, especially vs what you would pay an architect, but then you don't get the skills of the architect either, just the type of software they use. Very powerful, very flexible, but not a pick up and go learning curve. But none of the real design programs are. Power never comes with real ease of use. They also sell a cut-down version of it for the DIY folks, but they also allow you to upgrade to the full version from that at a significant discount. They have free trial versions you can download too, but they are HUGE files. Professional Home Design Software by Chief Architect

I tried cheaper programs previously like Punch but found they just didn't work well. SketchUp is pretty involved for doing full houses and takes real tie to learn well enough to get to that level. Other programs like ArchiCAD and AutoCAD are REALLY expensive.

 

[gocards1177]

Yeah we are a Mac house so no worries trying to find windows programs. That floorplanner site looks interesting but maybe more geared toward furniture layout? I'll have to investigate it further. I've always felt you get what you pay for so I don't necessarily have to have free. My wife and I would like for this to be IT as far as homes go. We've taken our time and really been thinking things through. Working with the architect was helpful but expensive. Time is money and my wife and I kept going back and forth with different ideas and modifications. We ended up with what I would say is about 80% right but it cost 4k to get there. Now I'd like to go the rest of the way to the end and be able to tweak things ourselves. My dad is a mechanical engineer and uses autocad every day. We could use him for drafting but it would be over phone and email since he lives 3 hours away.

 

[KennyG]

H&G Home Designer Suite is actually made by Chief. It's the "Lite" version. Amazon has the new 2012 version for $100 but they also have the last version (8.0) which is the one I have for $40 right now. Not a bad price to try it out.

 

[gocards1177]

H&G Home Designer Suite is actually made by Chief. It's the "Lite" version. Amazon has the new 2012 version for $100 but they also have the last version (8.0) which is the one I have for $40 right now. Not a bad price to try it out.

dstig1 and KennyG did you use this to build your own home? I'm waiting on a confirmation email from the chief architect website to download a free trial version.

 

[Depmandog]

I have heard of good things from this company.

http://www.punchsoftware.com/ I personally haven't used it, but check it out.