CA for future home builder/owner

[johnnyprc]

The notion that you can save money by drawing the home yourself is something of a fools gold. Simply, you don't know what you don't know. Some designers out there can reasonably design homes, but if you think the difference between an architect and you is mostly the ability to use CAD - then you may want to study and read up on some books before you set off on your project so you can appriciate this is not the case. The architect can pay for himself 10x over in many situations. A good designer can save you some money, but I would be very picky on who you choose, and good designers end up charging close to what an architect would ultimately charge. If you are using a "designer" who is cheap and has all the time in the world for your project - there is probably a reason for that. You want to use the architect/designer who you need to schedule for, since it shows he does something other people like. If you do go the architect route, make sure you choose an architect that at least "specializes" in residential and has a good portfolio in the type and style of home you want to end up with - some architects are "locked" into a certain style, and you may find yourself being bullied (i hate to use that word, but many clients feel this way with some architects).

In general, it is hard for me to see someone buying CA to design 1 home. I'd buy one of their less expensive design products to help you start to envision what you want, but leave the real drawings to a professional. If you insist to not hire an architect, I would look through plan books, buy the rights to a plan closest to meeting your needs, and then make the "changes" you want to personalize the design. At least this way you are starting with a professional framework. If you end up doing something too funky, you can destroy your investment in that resale value of your home may greatly hurt.

[RMorrison]

The notion that you can save money by drawing the home yourself is something of a fools gold. Simply, you don't know what you don't know. Some designers out there can reasonably design homes, but if you think the difference between an architect and you is the mostly the ability to use CAD - then you may want to study and read up on some books before you set off on your project so you can appriciate this is not the case. The architect can pay for himself 10x over in many situations.

Johnnyprc, I have now given up getting sucked into these discussions. What seems so obvious to you or me or anyone who has some level of formal design training is never going to be understood by someone who hasn't. (This is like trying to tell someone who is walking out of the house with a plaid shirt and striped pants that maybe they should reconsider. If they don't see the issue in the first place, they just think you're being an arrogant aesthete.) There is virtually no way to convince someone who is pleased as punch about their mediocre design that it could have been much, much better, and often they resent the comment. (Especially when this forum gives so much enthusiastic support to beginners.) Granted, many of the folks here do about as good work as a first or second-year architecture student, but that is not necessarily something to be inordinately proud of, nor something I personally would want to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to immortalize, but there you go. Also, everyone has an incompetent architect story to justify their position. So probably better to save your breath. For those who understand, no explanation is necessary. For those who don't, no explanation is possible.