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Great Features – BIG Learning Curve
I use, test, adopt, and teach on a lot of technologies every day. I have to say this system is one of the most robust. The only real challenge with Chief Architect is learning how and when to use all of the different features. And know at what subscription level, each comes into play.
I recommend committing yourself time to a course for training up on each feature as you begin to use this software. But once you master it, you will be creating professional designs at a top tier level.
Good Product – One Flaw
2024 Operates very well on the Apple Silicon. All the slowness disappears and the application is easy to use. The only gripe I have is that if you use a PDF file as a background, the system loads it as the CAD Layer. Turning off CAD makes your background disappear. A PDF is not a CAD object.
Good but Some Features need to come back
I love the updated version for 2024, however, I’m still waiting for the upper cabinet feature to have “backsplash below” to be returned from the 2022 version. Currently you can’t backsplash behind a range or other appliance due to this.
Also, the new search feature is not very user friendly and too confusing. I preferred the old search. Other than that, it runs more smoothly, graphically, than the previous version.
Merge two plans into one?
I love the program. It would be nice if the software enabled merger of two plans into one, e.g. creating a mirror image of a plan and then merging the two together to create a duplex.
UPDATE: Customer was sent article on mirroring a plan in Home Designer Software.
“What the hell is he doing in there” -Tom Waits
In April 2019; I purchased “Home Designer Suite” and have since upgraded to “Home Designer Pro” every year since. Last upgrade was February of this year. Suffice it to say I like your software and support! Your Technical department is amazing, I have asked some pretty dumb questions and have always received a helpful polite response.
I have had great success staying within the boundaries as it were. Boundaries being all the “auto-build” functions. I saw an article on “bowed” roofs and successfully designed a few barrack looking structures. Then I thought if you can bow a roof; why not a curve? It did indeed take some time and multiple entries on each segment of roof; but it works! The building was also post and beam so I created curved trusses using of all things a backsplash…
Another successful “tweak” was designing and laying out a Pole Barn… I would recommend HDP to anyone in the trades or design world.
just jerry
Used before and back again
It is easy and forgiving. The system alerts me when I am about to fall asleep when making errors. I fall asleep so easily and love the alerts and caution marks. I do wake up and get myself together. Customer service is great! My PC crashed and had to get a new computer and somehow lost the KEY and they quickly responded with detailed instructions to recover. I had my PW written down in my PW book and good there. The KEY probably stuck to other paper work that was tossed with the crashed PC. UGH!
New practice; using large zip lock baggies with all info to 1 appliance or electronics loaded into 1 bag per. Much better now.
Great program
Easy to use. Has been enormously helpful in design of our dream home! The tutorials are also fantastic & very helpful. If you don’t know how to do something a quick Google search almost always solves the problem.
Design development stepping stone using HDPro.
Design development, in the formal sense, is where a designer takes a concept sketch and prepares orthographic representation for use in further discussion with clients or builder contractor. I have facilitated Home Designer Pro for this in my design practice with selected projects now for six years with extremely good outcomes. HDPro is a very intuitive set of BIM and CAD modeling tools where the application of building materials, interior settings, site and landscaping, real world settings and anything else your heart desires can be handled hassle free with rather brilliant final effects for professional design presentations and more. Learn the HDPro rules and model away, it’s all so easily workable and I have never been disappointed with the finals using HDPro with client projects. With every new project my use and understanding is expanding as this is more than a simple DIY application – it’s user input quality that determines the output quality of the design in the Home Designer Pro environment. The Reference Manual has it all.
An OLD MAN can learn new tricks!
Having been a real designer / draftsman for many years, I was always hesitant to start learning a new program at age 75. But I tried several cad like programs, and Chief Architect was the only one I could successfully navigate, right out of the box.
Great product! I started with
Great product! I started with no knowledge and figured it out after watching the quick video. I had a set budget per sq ft and was able to get the space and rooms I wanted using the program.
The only thing I wish it had…
…would be a way to access the Pan easier. In InDesign you can press Alt and it changes the pointer to a pan motion without having to select the pan command button.
Perhaps this does exist but I haven’t found it. Please reply if I’m mistaken and advise use.
Update: There is a way to pan with a shortcut, it is shown in the productivity tips article.
unbelievable
Unbelievable software, both Suite and Pro.
Suite files are seamlessly accessible from Pro.
Both customer and technical support are great!
I don’t have a fancy computer, just a decent laptop, and it handles it.
Plus, the software is inexpensive. (don’t tell ’em)
Easy & Intuitive
I spent a great deal of time looking for a program that would allow me to easily create a plan and 3D rendering to help visualize a sunroom we’d like to add on to our existing home. I stumbled upon a video tutorial for the Home Designer Software and was immediately impressed by how logical and intuitive the interface was. Even the entry-level Home Designer Suite has a full complement of features and functionality. I was also impressed with the wealth of support resources and tutorials available to assist with understanding how to accomplish various tasks. I also like the fact the Chief Architect develops and supports their products right here in the U.S. I met with our contractor today, and when I showed him what I’d done using the Home Designer software he was so impressed he’s planning to purchase the program for his business.
Easy to use
I don’t do this for a living so this is purely unprofessional. I do a lot of renovations around the house and this helps me and my wife visualize changes before I start tearing down walls.
Great class! Very informative.
Great class! Very informative.
Very Satisfied
I’m a hobby designer and I’ve recently upgraded to the latest Home Designer Suite after using an older version. The ease of use, the graphics and the extensive product libraries are great, and I’ve found the software to be very intuitive and easy to use. Also, the website links, the back-up support and the tutorials are very customer friendly.
I’d definitely recommend.
Pro Version
Its is very functional and much better than other versions i have owned of there products. Where i am a bit let down is that for all the video requirements it has i expected much better level of realism in the 3D rendering as so many are now almost life like renderings.
The library’s offered are ample and work well.
Overall a great product.
Powerful, Intuitive and very easy to learn. Also very engaging/rewarding & fun to use.
I’m doing an addition to my home – a new level over the garage.
I tried several options – including one that was about the same $$ as Home Designer Suite.
I’m amazed at how easy it is to put together a plan of my existing home – which is absolutely perfect, with relative ease – which is an absolute must, before I then add that new level, based on the existing layout.
I’m impressed with the stability of the program. I’ve spent many hours in the program making complicated layouts and it has never frozen or crashed, and quietly makes backup’s . For example my computer rebooted after an OS update. When I opened the plans I was working on, the program let me know it had a more recent version than the last one I saved on my own.
Figuring out how to do things is a breeze using the Chief Architect web site. Example, I did not know how to put just a counter top with no cabinet – that was clearly explained, and easy to find in the help facility. Vaulted ceilings -also easy to find.
I have a lot of custom cabinetry which are not standard, or cookie cutter -and after a little experimenting changing the shape and door/drawer layout is a breeze. I’m sure I’ve only scratched the surface – but I really love using the program, it is engaging and fun to use and infinitely adjustable. There are some things I don’t yet know how to do, have poked around a little but not dug in deep. Like making a mirrored or glass cabinet door with no ‘lites’ or a full-height cabinet with only glass on the top doors. Mostly, if something doesn’t exist, they give you the tools to make it. My fireplace is full height rock with an oak mantel and a flat-stone hearth. Making the hearth, I just created a base cabinet at the right size and made the ‘counter top’ smooth stones, and the cabinet ‘finish’ as stone to match the rest fireplace definition – it doesn’t look 100%, but it looks fantastic.
I have always enjoyed architecture and drawing – but this makes it so fun, it is sometimes hard to put ‘down’.
Great program!
Great program! 2023 version has some handy upgrades in the layout tools. Tutorial videos are very helpful and there’s an easy link to them. Thanks a lot!
Great Product – Some Minor Drawbacks
I have used CA’s Home Designer for many years to design several buildings and a multitude of home remodels. No commercial use, just personal use. The capability of the product is amazing, and I haven’t used a fraction of it’s functions. And therein lies it’s biggest drawback for me – the inability to “word search” it’s extensive instruction manual. I always know what I am looking for, I just can never find it since you have to first know “where” to find it in the manual – and most of the time I don’t know. And searching each of the hundreds of sections in the manual is frustrating. Otherwise, it’s the best architectural tool I have found and I will continue to use it religiously.
