Home Designer Pro 2012 - 1 User

The Chief Architect D.I.Y. 2012 software is very powerful and it can do many neat things! I have had countless hours of fun playing with it! I have owned several previous versions of the Chief Architect D.I.Y. software, and they do make improvements with each new version. The Customer Service end(customer support),of the product runs HOT and COLD. If you call Chief Architect, and happen to get the right person, they could not be more helpful and knowledgeable; however, if you call, and get the wrong person,...forget it, you might as well be speaking two different languages. This version(2012), of Chief Architect didn't come with any NEW "Content Downloads", "Bonus Catalogues" or "Manufacturers Catalogues" on the Chief website which made me very sad, but Chief Architect is Re-Tooling their libraries, so hopefully they will have New libraries for the 2012 D.I.Y. version avalible to everyone soon.(?) The software is also not what I would call "intuitive", meaning you really should read ALL the directions before starting, because if you don't, you may have to redo parts of your designs later. This complexity is part of what makes the DIY software so powerful. There may also be a discount for both renewing the software(getting the latest version), or upgrading the software to the full Chief Architect product. (This D.I.Y. product is NOT what I would call cripple ware! HOWEVER it does not do EVERYTHING the FULL VERSION OF C.A. DOES.) Chief MAY offer you a discount certain times of the year, or if you buy it at a Trade show that the folks at Chief are attending. OVERALL I LOVE THE PRODUCT... AND I WOULD GIVE IT 4 1/2 STARS IF I COULD!

I first started using Chief Architect Inc software back in 1994. I have never stopped or had the urge to use anything else. I started out in the remodeling business and now use it for custom home design, apartment design, commercial developments and shopping center design.
Part of my business model is the support of all of Chief Inc software, from their Home Designer line to Chief Architect Premiere as a drafts-person, designer, teacher, tutor and helper.

The thing I like about their products is that they support people's innate ability and urge to create, to get one's concepts out of the "Mind's Eye" and into a form that is easily shared with Building Professionals.

Home Designer Pro 2012 is for the remodeling contractor and for the demanding amateur who requires professional grade tools at a modest price. I created a set of plans for a remodeling job the first day after installing the software (a new kitchen), my clients were able to see exactly what their new kitchen would look and feel like spatially.

Anything really worthwhile takes an investment of your time and intention to really learn and master (the software is a finely honed tool but does not operate itself - you must learn how to do that!). Chief Architect software is also the best supported in terms of video tutorials offered by Chief Inc and also by many of its affectionate users (I have my own You Tube Channel of video tutorials as well). There are also several User forums that are well attended and a valuable source of help.

You are not just buying software but also acquiring a new family of avid users, ready to help you achieve your own Architectural Dreams.

For me the benefits of using this company's software far out weigh the drawbacks - price and learning curve. I've drawn plans by hand for years because I wasn't willing to go through the brainstrain and frustration of learning how to use new software. This is where the folks at Chief Architect shine. They have free weekly one hour webinars on how to use their software for various projects like designing/drawing kitchens, landscaping, roofs etc. And once a month the webinar is sort of a basic overview of how to draw the plans for a complete home from the site layout/landscaping through floor planning all the way through the design of the roof trusses and a materials list. They also have gobs of other tutorials, videos, and quick start and user guides etc. But for me it was the free webinars that got me to the point where I was willing to push through the first hour or two of the frustration of actually using its many tools. (It's like learning to ride a bike or play a sport - videos/tutorials make learning easier, but you have to actually do it to learn it.) Most of us can free up one hour time slots a couple times a month to participate in a live webinar where you can actually ask questions and get answers. The power of the software is amazing. It can generate visual walk throughs and other wizardly things that I'm still learning. This company's software is definitely worth the time, effort, and money. By the way, I'd like to start a Denver user's group. My address is Bill@diafp.com.