Thanks PPF. I'll give it a look.

Home Designer Pro would be my choice for DIY home plans.

At $495 HDP is at the upper limits of what I was hoping to pay. I need to finish reviewing it. Thanks much.

If that’s your upper end for noodling around, just go straight to the architect. $500 software ain’t gonna really do you a lot of good without the design brain and a couple of years behind it for practicing. And you may not be ready to build if you value skilled design so low.

I find pencils and paper much better in the early brainstorming phase anyway

Are you aware that these "consumer" CAD programs are limited in what is possible to create? For example, you may be abe to create floor plans, but pehaps not elevations, or roof plans or building or wall sections or door/window schedules. Perhaps no details, such as footings, for example.

And the size of prints may be limited to consumer sized printers, which means the prints are not to scale?

If you're simply doing this for fun and as a hobby, none of this may matter. But if you're doing it to actually bid and build a house, then that's another thing entirely. In such a case, Sophie is right. Simply hand a drafter a sketch and let them use a professional-level CAD to produce drawings to scale and at a size necessary for permits and proper bidding and construction.

Sophie Wheeler

"If that’s your upper end for noodling around, just go straight to the architect. $500 software ain’t gonna really do you a lot of good without the design brain and a couple of years behind it for practicing. And you may not be ready to build if you value skilled design so low."

Thanks for this input Sophie. When we designed our first house back in 95/96 we did more than just "noodle" around with the plans. We made blue prints of the floor, roof, and cabinet plans, and then contracted everything ourselves. We researched subs, visited countless construction sites, visited with the craftsmen there, and hired all our subs. Yes, we made some mistakes, but we also got some things not normally seen in new construction, and got what we wanted. And we did some of the work ourselves (electrical with the help of a licensed electrician, and insulation). So, no we are not designers, architects, or any other professional building trade, but we are not starting from zero. We do value design, and that is why we designed our own the first time. After reading through countless books of plans, we just did it our self. At that time we were working on a shoestring budget and really couldn't afford an architect. This time, although we are still on a budget, we could afford an architect if we chose carefully, and may yet choose to use one. However, we thought if we could do the basic design our self, and then take that to an architect for finishing, we could marry the best of both paths: getting exactly what we wanted, and having the eye of a professional on the project also. Do you think that is reasonable? Would you recommend a different path?

doc5md

"I find pencils and paper much better in the early brainstorming phase anyway."

I agree, and have already sketched some ideas. I am going to wait to see what our land looks like before getting serious about design. We are currently looking for just the right piece of land. Our current house was designed specifically for the land it's on.

PPF. - When you say that HDP has no printing capability, is it possible to take a screenshot on one’s computer while using the software? If that’s not possible, you can always just take a photo on your phone, make any alterations needed, download it to your computer, etc.

A house design means nothing without the land as the land will dictate the house that can go on it too. Do a search on this forum for threads on choosing an architect, designing a house, siting a house and bubble diagrams.

And to answer your question. You don't bring a completed sketch to an architect and then have him/her "fix" a few things. You do that with a draftsman and then hope they know what they are doing. (Most times they don't.)

You bring your wishes, needs and what rooms you want to be near one another to an architect along with pictures of what you like and don't like. A real architect will come out and walk the land with you to determine the best orientation of the house and what features on the land are important to you. Then they will work WITH you to create a design that shows both interiors and exteriors at the same time. If you want an idea of what I'm trying to explain, look up the member architectrunnerguy.

I find self diagnosing on WebMD so much more efficient than going through a general practitioner and then a specialist. I just can’t understand why a surgeon won’t put me on the schedule based on my obvious knowledge though. I may just have to go to Mexico to make this surgery happen.

Architects have 10 years of specialized study. They design. They don’t take amateur efforts and tidy them up. Draftsmen do that. And they might have a CAD course at a community college. And they might have some architectural education. Most don’t.

And the worst disservice that a draftsman does for you is that they aim above their abilities, and then don’t say NO when it needs saying. Because they’re transcriptionists, not designers.

Any cockamamie dysfunctional and expensive idea is put on the same level as a functional tweak. There is no discernment and judgement based on education and experience. They rarely start with the land and a parti. And it shows.

DIYing is great. I built my barn. I put in the new radiator in the Honda. I built the shelving in the laundry room. But when my cousin wanted me to design his house, I referred him. (First of all, family and work doesn’t mix) My day’s of working with the builders is too far past, and even though I keep up and am sharper than most 75 year olds, I don’t want to deal with the inevitable mistakes that I would make. And I’m no amateur with any of this.

Virgil Carter Fine Art

"Are you aware that these "consumer" CAD programs are limited in what is possible to create? For example, you may be abe to create floor plans, but pehaps not elevations, or roof plans or building or wall sections or door/window schedules. Perhaps no details, such as footings, for example.

And the size of prints may be limited to consumer sized printers, which means the prints are not to scale?

If you're simply doing this for fun and as a hobby, none of this may matter. But if you're doing it to actually bid and build a house, then that's another thing entirely. In such a case, Sophie is right. Simply hand a drafter a sketch and let them use a professional-level CAD to produce drawings to scale and at a size necessary for permits and proper bidding and construction."

Virgil, that is what I expected this process would look like. While I drew scale plans and had full size blue prints made the first time, I was hoping some software would make at least some of that process easier this time. I do not have the experience or time to spend learning an expensive software package, only to end up in the same place as last time, limited by my inexperience. I'm willing to pay someone for their knowledge and experience. This is not a hobby, I am doing it to build a house to retire in. I was hoping to do exactly what you and Sophie are recommending, come up with a draft design and get professional help to produce buildable plans. We have not decided if we will turn the project over to a general contractor, or act as the GC ourselves. I'm leaning toward hiring a GC. Thank you for the input, it helps.

cpartist

"A house design means nothing without the land as the land will dictate the house that can go on it too. Do a search on this forum for threads on choosing an architect, designing a house, siting a house and bubble diagrams."

I agree. And that is why we are waiting until we find some land we want to get serious about design. I have a lot to learn.

Edit:

You and Sophie seem to be in agreement. I think I need to talk with an architect before going too far down this path. Thank you for the advice.

Sophie, thanks again for your comments. I think you are suggesting that I skip my planned designing and go straight to an architect. I am considering that path. I just don't know if we can afford what a good architect is worth. And I don't want to spend time with an architect only to find that we cannot agree. I have been in that situation before. But your concern is valid and certainly appreciated.

@ Ana Kinra

Free trials are available too -- only limitation is no printing.

For anyone curious, here is a YouTube playlist showing the capabilities of Home Designer Pro ($495). Suite ($99) is very similar and still fully 3D.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqOuoZKrHpQ&list=PL7J4ch5cuz99pBDuLJ5a8Nt6l3DSmTTCW&index=1

I respond to questions at the Home Designer forum and find many people are using the software to build a 3D model of the house. They want to see what many Architects and designers seem unable to provide -- what is the house going to look like?

Many people find it difficult to translate a 2D floorplan and elevations into a three dimensional representation of their house.

They often want to experiment with colors, place furniture and other objects inside.

Some use it to meet HOA requirements, or for small projects where construction document requirements are minimal.

I know a prominent retired architect that uses nothing less than HB.

" . . . go straight to an architect. I am considering that path."

That is a real good consideration. With the right architect you will be one happy camper.

Sounds like you're planning to work with an architect and that you haven't yet purchased the land. Consider involving an architect during your land selection process. He or She can provide invaluable insights about orientation, access, slope, grading drainage etc. In other words, will the land work for the home you plan?

SSA, thanks for the suggestion. And thanks to all the other comments and suggestions. I will definitely investigate architects in the area. I don't know about having an architect help select the land though. These days a good piece of land can be gone in just a few days after listing. Often there is time for only 1 visit before a contract is pending.

That definitely makes it harder. Perhaps Google Earth and a phone conversation?

Yes, I've found GE Pro to be very helpful. I can just make a kmz file of a polygon and attach it to an email. Still, only so much can be learned from a GE view. We have found that visiting a formerly great looking piece of land has often been disappointing. Anyway, the suggestion is good and I'll work that direction. Thanks.

Norman-- you're right. Nothing is better than standing on the land, but you can still learn a lot from Google Earth.