Customer Reviews

Chief Architect Home Designer 9.0 [OLD VERSION]

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

I bought this program to draft plans for a house extension. It is quite easy to learn, especially using with the free on-line tutorials which explain most features quickly and clearly. I was a bit disappointed with the roofing features of this version (Home Designer 9.0) because I cannot do custom roof designs which is what I have in my house. As well, this version of the program does not seem to include landscape elevations and as a result I have been unable to add exterior stairs from a deck. Other than that, I am very pleased with the purchase and would recommend it to others. The program is very intuitive to learn and the 3D views are great. At $42.99 it was excellent value for money.

I purchased this computer program because both of my kids asked for a compter "game" that they could design houses.....an architect game.....They are a 10 y/o boy and 13 y/0 girl. I bought this for Xmas thinking that it would probably be over their heads and too technical but couldn't find anything else that fit. I had read reviews of most computer architect programs and this one sounded great but most likely too complicated for them. I was wrong. Both of them are consumed with designing their own home. They have had no problems with the programming or language. They are so excited about telling us the new features they created. The program can be downloaded onto more than one computer and does not need the disc for playing. I really thought this home program would be complicated for them but they are loving it and getting a wonderful feeling when they create something so uniquely theirs and "adult like". I have not worked the program but if you have a kid interested in architecture......I think this is a great creative program for them as long as they are moderately computer savy. I am sure it is wonderful for adults to use as well! First present they both used and most favorite present they received. Sorry Santa!

We spent a casual week or so shopping for DIY home design software; I wanted to finalize a home design I'd been doing on napkins and in my head for years. Studied all their websites and compared/contrasted. Finally pulled the trigger on the $99 Punch software at Best Buy. Long story short; after a week of frustration, I took it back for a refund (BB doesn't like to do that on opened software, so I called and got a mngr's approval.)

What were the problems with the Punch? In no particular order:

1) The OOBE (out-of-box-experience) was not very good. It installed and ran OK; and the initial start-up scheme they have developed to get the rank novice going (that of dragging boxes (rooms) into rough locations) went OK; but the process began to bog down quickly due to my inexperience with the program. That's to be expected, but viewing the tutorials and then digging deep into the manual were often more frustrating than illuminating. Hey Punch: suggest you hire someone with ISD (Instructional System Design) experience to solve this problem.

2) No support for adding a fireplace? YGTBKM! Maybe it's in there, but I searched and searched, and the word "fireplace" was not to be found in the index, nor the reference manual, nor the search function.

3) No ICF support. This is becoming far too popular a modern green home construction technique to ignore.

4) I found the program to be far too finicky in such simple functions as "snap-to-point" when building a wall; I was wasting a lot of time trying to get it to do the simplest things. This is where Punch drops the ball the most; they don't appear to have designed the tutorials and training to overcome the most common errors of a typical beginner. (I have a Master's Degree in Educational Technology, so feel qualified to judge).

I then bought the Chief Architect 9.0 from Amazon for $53. At least for me, I'm having an easier time of it. (I'll grant you that the struggles with the first product made me somewhat more skillful with the second).

Not everything is perfect with CA 9.0 however. Expect some learning curve and frustration.

1) Very disappointed that the Punch had a 300+ page printed manual, while the CA 9.0 has only a .pdf.

2) I liked the fly-around camera function much better in the Punch than the CA 9.0; it's simpler and more intuitive. Quite often with the CA 9.0, with just a gentle flick of the mouse I get crazy gopher's-eye-view of my house from underneath, or sometimes a termite's-eye-view from inside the wall. Sheesh.

For $53..... thumb's up!

I've been working on a rather large project involving the design/layout of several custom buildings. I've been using some pretty old CAD software, both 2D and 3D to rough out my designs. A year ago I splurged and bought a program specifically for house/architectural design.. I was excited about it. and it took a while to get comfortable with the new format and eventually I got going on redoing all my previous drawings.

Though it was much better than what I had, it was still lacking...

About mid summer I was watching for the upgraded version of that same program to be discounted...and was nearly ready to buy.....

Just a few days before I had intended to place the order I got an email of features from Amazon and just on a lark clicked on the link for the Home Designer software being offered.

I went to the page and saw the video and just sat here gap jawed.. then I read the reviews.. and I was sold...

Now.. to be fair the video is a bit misleading. It shows all the features of all their programs, not telling you just exactly what you can, or can't do, with a given package. I bought the low end product and I admit that I was disappointed when I found that it didn't do EVERYTHING in the video... and when you go through the tutorials.. you have to watch for the little logo on the bottom of the screen to see if what they are discussing is included in your version.. but other than that....

It's wonderful. The learning curve isn't too bad. Watch the tutorials and play around a bit with a practice project until you get used to how things work. Once you get the hang of it layout and customizing goes very quickly...

The detail in how you can do interior layout of the rooms and even outdoor areas makes it really fun to work with, you can SEE what the furniture will look like in the room.

There are plenty of ways that you can customize objects and such within their software so that you can get pretty close to furniture size and such to approximate your own pieces.

One feature that I VERY much wanted, and found is not in the version I purchased.. was to import objects that I created in my other software. Since this package doesn't include that feature, I'm saving up to upgrade. Since the drawings that I'm working on now can be imported into the upgrade I'm not wasting my time in continuing to work, and when I am able to upgrade I will then be able to use my own object designs as well.

The walk through feature, I must add, is a blast... to layout a 'dream design' that has only lived in your mind.. and then be able to do a virtual walk through... makes it all worthwhile!

I did not buy the expensive version (Home Designer Pro), and perhaps that is why I have trouble with some functions. As mentioned in another review, roofs are a problem. In one situation, I modeled a two story home with an one story attached garage, and the result was not realistic for the roofs; the software tried to make the roof on the garage the same height as the house and left open spaces. I then detached the garage, and put it to the side of the house. The software continued to treat the two as a single unit and spanned a roof between them. I then eliminated the garage entirely, and the software continued to place a partial roof out from the house to where the garage had been. The only way to get around this was to start all over from scratch and model the house only. It seems the software retains some kind of memory for deleted items. I have since made it a habit of saving my plans before adding new items or features, since I have seen it happen in other situations as well; then I can go back to the older plan if something weird happens. That makes the process slow and I also keep notes of saved plans to indicate what was added from the last. The software also appears flawed in some areas as well. In one plan I used a two story construction, and had a open room on the first floor that was 16 foot across along the entire length of the house, and did the same thing upstairs - making the home very open. When I clicked on the framing camera, it simply used 2X6 for the ceiling of the first floor with no header and only used the single wall in the downstairs length to support the 2X6's and the entire upstairs. I clicked on the materials list, and sure enough, the largest size of lumber listed was 2X6. However, as anyone who is in the construction business will tell you, 2X6's will not span a 16 foot length, and the upstairs would collapse into the downstairs. There may be other errors as well, or perhaps this was a result of the first type of problem I discussed. At any rate, it would appear that plans should be taken with a grain of salt before actually using them. There were also features that simply don't work; then if you save the plan and reload it, they mysteriously work. I have a brand new computer with Windows 7, so it may indicate a memory problem with the software or problems with the software in Windows 7; I couldn't tell you which, but one or the other.

Negatives aside, it does allow you to get a feel for how your home would look after construction, and what certain landscaping features would look like as well; but expect to spend time and, I would recommend that you save a lot of plans along the way. So, in summary, it's a inexpensive way to plan a new home or an addition, where your trade off is time. If you are in the construction business, you definitely want the expensive version, Home Designer Pro, assuming that eliminates or minimizes these kinds of problems, however, I cannot verify that would be true.

I have to agree with the 5 star post - I had no problems downloading the program, was given the CD key, program started with no problems at all!

This program is better than I expected! I bought this program solely for designing a deck. At first, I was a little discouraged by the lack of "deck designing tools" but then I went through a few of the tutorials and quickly designed a second level deck with staircase to a landing half-way down. This program is actually fairly easy to use - go through the tutorials, they WILL help!

A few knocks:

No corner notching (at least I haven't found it yet). I have to draw the sides independently, which isn't THAT hard to do with the helpful crosshairs.

No ability to locate posts/footings/beams independent of the program. All are set automatically, whether you need them at a location or not.

The same holds true for the decking; there's no way to alter decking board direction - program does it automatically and not necessarily in the way you would want the boards to go. No decking patterns (herringbone, diagonal, picture frame, etc.) available.

A grid or graph and square foot calculator would be helpful...

A few kudos:

Measurements appear as segments are drawn - and can be easily deleted.

Printing options! Print to scale - 1/4" = 1'; 1/2" = 1' you get the idea

Multiple views, camera angles, glass house camera!

I had a similar program that I used years ago (Better Homes and Gardens for Win95?)which did exactly what I wanted it to. Sadly, that program is long gone so I bought this one. I tried Punch and hated it, it was not very user friendly and had very limited capabilities. This program is the next best thing and the more I use it, the more I think it exceeds the other. I cannot speak for the other components of this program, but if they're anything like the deck designing, I'm sure it would be more than adequate for your needs. Like any program, you need to spend some time to figure out all it's nuances, tricks, capabilities, etc.

For the money, you will not be disappointed with this program!

Really I don't know what the other feedbacks are about because it installed great after downloading the Amazon Downloader software.

It keeps your purchase on file. You can make copies of the file. You get a cd key. I produced a drawing for my customer in about

1 hour and it was complete with a walk through kitchen, laundry, bath with shower, family room, bedroom, windows doors, flooring choice,

tile, counters you name it. You will love it and if you had a problem im sure amazon would have helped you.

You will be happy, it is by far the easiest progam I have used in years. Dont listen to the others, if you need it fast like me

and cant wait. Then just buy it!Chief Architect Home Designer 9.0 [DOWNLOAD]

I love this application, and have been using it for years under older versions (4.5 and earlier). Upgrading to version 9.0 is a HUGE improvement over the old ones - there are so many more features, and the graphics are unbelievably fast compared to the old versions. I love the huge number of library items you can add to customize your design. The improved camera tools make looking at your design very easy. I like the 'glass house' view too. And the final rendered views look great. Deck and landscaping design has greatly improved too, with great flexibility.

Minor irritations: It is very frustrating trying to build a house to exact measurements, due to the overpowering 'snap' feature, which I can't seem to turn off effectively - you can temporarily disable it, but it also disables all the other features so the wall you're resizing winds up separating from all the other walls. Very frustrating. Also, in trying to create a section of a room that is slightly raised from the rest, it doesn't display correctly on the views - the room is drawn without any floor.

These are minor inconveniences in an otherwise fantastic product.

I am not an architect, but a mechanical engineer, and needed some software to analyze how an apartment building of my own would look before starting construction.

I have tried other 3D architectural software in the past, but this one is the best I have purchased until now. Very easy to learn, intuitive, lots of support by videos, easy to use for the average user.

This software is very professional, in just a few days after installing it in my laptop, I have almost finished a very reasonable design and had it reviewed by an architect, and everything seems fine.

The software makes sound suggestions and allows you to make progress very fast and the outcome is very, very useful.

I purchased this software and could not get it running due to the MacAfee Security Center software that I have installed on my machine. I spent a substantial amount of time with the Chief Architect software support engineer. He was unable to help me get this running. He acknowledged that this is a problem. As a test, we were able to install the software on my wife's PC that has Norton security software installed on it. It was able to work but that is not the platform for which I purchased the software. Please note this limitation.