Home Designer Suite

I have been a designer for the better part of 20 years. I am versed in most major CAD based design programs and have had a successful career doing it. In order to simplify the purchase of materials for an addition we are doing, I decided to purchase this software as it is supposed to calculate needed materials. NOTHING is intuitive about this software. EVERYTHING works differently than you would expect. They dont offer any guides on this software, they are all in the Pro version. If I can explain it best, I would put it this way. In an attempt to simplify things for people that dont know what they are doing, they have tried to automate the entire process. In doing so, have taken away the ability to actually tell the software to do what you want. Roofs are a particular nightmare. When I have an existing structure, I dont want the program automatically changing things every time I click something. That building has been there for 200 years. I will try and get my money back, we will see what happens...

This software is very useful, a lot features and videos helps to learn to use!

I have been looking around for months for a decent program for design work for a home remodel. This program does a fairly decent job of that with some small exceptions. One thing some of the other programs I have tried out allow for locking of dimensions so you can set the length of a wall and have it keep that length when you add in other sections to build out a room. This one I have been unable to find any such feature so each time you add in something it would keep altering all the other dimensions around it to different sizes. While I can see it as a good thing to auto adjust for sizes, sometime you want a length to remain the size you set it at while you are still adding in additions. The biggest issue I have found was with the library, there are so very few options in there it makes it almost not worth it. Using the browse feature to find new libraries is super cumbersome, they are all broken out into different packages some free but most have a fee which ranges from low to high. Within those extra libraries though, you only get 5-8 objects where 1 is good and all the rest are just trash objects. These really should be modified to just get all of them for X price, or categories where you get everything for X price instead of Bathroom 1, bathroom 2, bathroom fixtures... etc. Trying to find a particular item in the catalogs is next to impossible and is either not available or buried inside something else. Then when you find the one you need, every time it is only available in the more costly version and not available in this version. Kind of poor setup for consumers since most people dont need the bells and whistles the more costly ones have because we arent architects, and if you get the cheaper version you cannot even buy the additional catalogs.

I purchased the 2020 edition and even the Get Started Guide doesnt work! After 35 years in tech support I know that the first thing you do with a new release is MAKE SURE the Get Started Guide works. I am returning mine to the company.

to use, need to purchase upgrades, simple needed dropdowns not available unless upgraded, items shown on basic tutorial... find something else, have had minor cad experience so im not a total greenhorn

Awesome ! I bought as I read it was addictive so I figured if it was addictive is was really good. I love this thing! It takes time to get used to how to use the tools and later floors with the correct dimension info. I learned a lot of basic construction just by playing with this software. I had an issue with the 3D functions and after a few chats with the tech support I learned my computers video card needed to be upgraded. The tech sent me a link to get the right upgrade for my computer - he went above and beyond software support and it works without any flaws now. Amazed by this software. Take the time to watch the tutorial videos on line and save often as you experiment with the tools.

I, like others, was having difficulty getting this program to work on my HP. However, I moved it to my husbands Toshiba and it worked beautifully! So, I contacted CS and asked what the problem could be. I received an answer within 24 hours that it was probably an out of date video driver. I checked, and sure enough mine was dated 2014. AMD didnt make it easy for me to update, but I finally did, and now it works great! As far as the program goes, it works pretty well for my purposes, although the library could be a little more user friendly. Sometimes hard to find the piece youre looking for. But all in all, Im very pleased!

3d walk through is great for visualization of the concept. Paint colors, kitchen cabinets, bathrooms, even where a t.v. might look best on a wall. I also like how it doesnt end with the inside. I can layout flower beds, trees, patios, even landscape lights. You can truly get a look at the entire property inside and out.

I purchased this download from Chief Architect’s site on 6/27/19 and have played around with it every day since. It’s easy to use and the online guides are pretty helpful. If I can’t figure something out on my own I Google it and there’s always an answer from CA in the form of a guide. I’m still trying to figure out the functions and I wish I could designate hot keys, but I can cope without. I’ve been using the Sims 4 to satisfy my architecture and interior design hunger and this is a step up.

Purchased the Home Designer Suite 2020 to assist in the design of new home. It was easy to install and in less than a week I had an acceptable model of my future building project that I could evaluate in 3D format! I does require some study due to the numerous options and details. I contacted the technical assistance number and had excellent response to fix my problem. Saved a lot of back and forth with an architect and great for a DIY guy.