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Chief Architect
What Is Chief Architect?
Architectural CAD solution designed to help remodeling professionals, interior designers, kitchen and bath designers, architects, and builders utilize automated building tools to create construction designs. Specifically built to create residential designs, Chief Architect can be used to automatically generate floor plans, 360-degree panoramic renderings, and more using a unified interface. Builders can also use the platform to share 3D models with homeowners or subcontractors.
Who Uses Chief Architect?
Chief Architect software is designed for professionals, designers, architects, and remodelers. And Home Designer software is designed for the consumer DIY home design market.
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Reviews of Chief Architect
Chief Atchitect
Comments: Overall chief architect is not the best and easy to use software that I’ve ever use. It is very convenient and user-friendly.
Pros:
With adding on features like attenders you can really walk into your home and have complete vision about it. My clients are really very happy after having a picture real view of their dreams
Cons:
Rendering needs very high and systems and that involves a good cost
Alternatives Considered:
Plans for clients and trades alike!
Comments: I can't imagine using any other program.
Pros:
I love that I can use one-floor plan to create everything I need to provide to the customers, the foreman, the trades, and the designers to be able to have concepts come to light. Notes, dimensions, and materials are all easily accessible in the program.
Cons:
There was a steep learning curve which I still don't feel that I have mastered completely. It works differently than other design programs I am accustomed to used and didn't feel like I naturally knew where tools were.
Good product
Comments: I have been happy with the software overall.
Pros:
The ease of drawing out rooms for estimates. Like that you could buy only what you needed and it wasn't an annual thing.
Cons:
Sometimes there was a big learning curve on doing the drawings.
Alternatives Considered:
Do you have to release a new verion earch year?
Comments: In the X11 version, views glitch when I zoom in and out, window labels display 2 (") inches measurement symbols when the " use default formatting" box is checked, material regions work on occasion, curved roofs are very finicky. There are other issues as well but the list is too long for this comment box.
Pros:
It is a great software with a great many features.
Cons:
I don't like that major bugs and kinks are never ironed out of the software before the release of a new version. I wish they would fix what is broken first. Each new release for the past 3 years seems to be worse and worse....
Chief Architect Response
6 years ago
Thank you for the review and comments. I think we can help. There is an optimization you can make in preferences to fix the zoom and pan issue. For the double inch symbol is sounds like you may have inadvertently added that symbol to the macro in the label and have the use default formatting checked. You can reach out to our in house Tech Support for assistance with getting this resolved if needed.
Chief Architect Review
Comments: I've used CA in the past and it's been easy to use. The items that are downloaded are dated and I have to buy more authentic looking packages. I'd pay a bit more and have better downloads to use in my drawings.
Pros:
The cost and ease of use for design work.
Cons:
The sofas, chairs etc. are blockie and archaic looking. Not being able to bring outside furniture from companies an place inside the drawings.
