mthd97

Good 3d BIM program to program collaboration language will solve most of these problems as it does in other cad software!

Raul thanks for that, In have not heard of that estimating app before? Let us know how your evaluation is proceeding. You will get lots of help from the guys here.

Hi Raul, I use both Chief and ArchiCAD. My view is you only load the apps you need to get the Job done. Many use Chief and other 2d Cad tools together, I dont use Autocad but I see the many benefits of it. I would use Chief for 3d presentations for cookie cutter homes or project homes. It would be very easy to export a dwg file from Cheif and send it into Autocad to finish off while you are learning the ropes, I dont need any 2d cad programs to get the job done in Chief. I would say Chief is a very good fit for your company and not that hard to learn either for the younger generation cad operators since you are based in the US, Chief was specifically made for the US style homes. Give a good test run before you make your decision. You havent told us what apps you use for material take off or cost estimating and if you are intending to use Chief for this as well?

Talking about "Ethics", what drives people to be ethical? The fact that if people are in business and if they don't behave in an ethical manner they lose out on business and in reputation? Older generations were bought up with a different set of values and if they choose to follow them, then that can be similar to ethics? Younger generations are more likely to have the TV and other media influence their behaviour rather than old fashioned values. Here in Australia most Building Designers are associated with the BDA or "Builders Designers Association" and in order to join the BDA you have to we willing to follow a code of ethics. I don't belong to the BDA but I still have a code of good behaviour that I try to follow not because of business but because I believe it is in the best interests for all people now and in the long run. Some choose to throw away the values they were bought up with due to bad experience and become "If you can get away with it then do it type people", in their behaviour and yet still follow a code of ethics when it comes to business. In the end we all choose our standard for good and bad that we will follow and that is why we will have some of the problems of today that seem to be getting worse on a global scale in our day? Wow! we have diverged quite a bit from going from Chief to Softplan? I can say, if I was still a quantity surveyor for houses, I would give it a good trial to see if it is worth the money to me and to be able to do both design/drafting and quantities from the same app would save time. Others here say SP is not doing the full job properly and I agree. To me it is clear that Chief is the best all rounder and you can use the ML feature as much as you like and it will only get better in newer versions.

I would just like to say that to me, Chief has one of the easiest learning curves around. The proof is in the home design series and now Room Planner that any novice should be able to use with the included videos and support. That best answer is in the opinion of the poster not to us experienced users of Chief and other CAD software. For 2d CAD users Cadsoft might be better for them and the only advantage I can see in CS is maybe the materials control? Its not unheard of for peole to use Autocad lt with CA for more 2d tools they are used to using but for me that would be a waste of time. In Chief you need to think more in terms of 2d shapes not in line segments to get faster at 2d CAD.

In the end its not wrong to have a combination of major apps to get the job done. If Softplan gives you something you need that you cant get done with Chief yet, then it may be good to have both? I play guitar and I use Kramer, Fender, Gretsch and Gibson they give me different tones and some are good for playing the rhythm and others for lead and some for both. So you don't have use one over the other if choose to use more than one.

I use both CA & ArchiCAD and both are very good tools. Right now with ArchiCAD 18 the new C4D render engine is much easier to use with good results with pre defined settings and Chief has given me good fast results for rendering for a long time now. We have more support in Australia with ArchiCAD and our library parts being Aus specific as well as having and Australian version of ArchiCAD. If I was in the US, CA is all I would need and use for my low rise housing projects. I still think the Chief learning curve was very easy for me but ArchiCAD was much harder and worth it. I would not give up Chief because of its very fast modelling capabilities for less complicated houses and gives me lots of productivity and saves time on certain jobs.

Chief Architects learning curve has increased over the years but I would say it is not really that steep, just looking at a demo of SP I would say that would be allot steeper? The training Videos in the SSA package make that climb easier. Yes CA to me is suited to quick design and rendering for residential housing. In the end each Design Professional has his own specific needs and priorities unique to them.

Hi Ian, hope they get this sorted for you soon as builder clients are always wanting things done yesterday. All the Best, Manuel Trantalis.