Creating 3D plans: which architecture software should you choose?
Creating a 3D plan of a building is an invaluable asset for real estate business. Indeed, even the most experienced sales people know just how powerful a visualisation of a future property can be in enhancing the value of a real estate project. It is an invaluable argument for triggering a sale at a customer meeting.
However, you will need professional architectural software to create these visualisations.
That's why we recommend that you get the best 3D house plan software, or at least the one best suited to your ambitions.
To help you make the right decision, appvizer explains in this article the features you need to consider when choosing the tool that will contribute to the success of your property projects. And because we know that architecture-related professions require total concentration on their core business, we go one step further by presenting software that simplifies project management and administration.
Which professional architecture software should you choose?
Towards free 3D drawing software?
Interested in free software?
You'll find some on the market, such as Kozikaza. However, even if they can help you out, beware! Free software for interior design and creating plans does not offer the same quality of rendering as paid software.
Even a large-scale project, such as a luxury villa, can suffer from an unfortunate perspective, a disappointing design or modelling that does the project a disservice. This can have a detrimental effect on the sale.
Above, 3D rendering of a house using Kozikaza
Below, 3D rendering of a house using Cedreo
What's more, free solutions often don't include certain interesting features, such as a 360° video virtual tour. And yet, this type of functionality is a profitable added value to the sale.
That's why we recommend that you turn to paid tools that are better suited to the real needs of architects and real estate salespeople.
We have selected three of them:
Selection of 3D plan creation software
Cedreo: software designed for salespeople
Cedreo is 3D architecture software that you can put in the hands of your estate agents and property hunters. Making 3D plans is no longer just for architects:
Cedreo in a nutshell:
- Produce a 3D plan in just a few clicks, with no technical knowledge required, thanks to drawing wizards that enable you to present customers with a professional-quality 3D house plan;
- Benefit from rigorous, responsive technical support, as and when you need it;
- Have access to a catalogue of usable models that have been validated in advance by the design office;
- Save time on calculations thanks to an automated costing module;
- Give your customers the benefit of an advanced simulation of their property project, thanks to the possibility of producing a 3D video.
Cedreo
Sketchup: the intuitive tool that makes modelling easier
Well-known and widely used by architects, Sketchup makes it easy to create visual renderings of all your architectural projects. And there's also a free version!
Sketchup in a nutshell:
- Get started easily, with a simple and intuitive interface, where other software is difficult to understand;
- Choose the version (SketchUp Free, SketchUp Pro or SketchUp Studio) that best suits your needs and the types of projects you're working on;
- Find answers to your questions easily thanks to the many SketchUp users and the tutorials they produce;
- Publish, share and securely store your working documents in the cloud;
- Offer your customers a virtual reality experience with the Pro and Studio versions.
Sketchup
Space Designer 3D: the solution for agile working
With Space Designer 3D, agile software, you can create, build and visualise changes in real time.
Space Designer 3D in a nutshell:
- Work with ease thanks to this intuitive and easy-to-use tool;
- Take advantage of a fully online solution that can be adapted to all types of media (computer, smartphone, tablet) so you can work on the move;
- Collaborate more easily using a single software application, and become more productive;
- Take advantage of our hosting and data security services;
- Export data from other software (Sketchup, Autocad, Revit, Archicad, etc.);
- Create shopping baskets by integrating Space Designer 3D into your e-commerce platform.
Space Designer 3D
Other essential software for architects
Are you an architect who doesn't want your creative drive to be held back by administrative and organisational constraints? Did you know that there's more to architecture than just 3D drawing software?
Discover two tools that will significantly improve the management of your architectural projects.
APROPLAN: improve the operational monitoring of your sites
Do you often find it complex to manage collaboration on your construction sites? APROPLAN makes the task easier and project management smoother.
APROPLAN in a nutshell:
- Simplify your work and that of your colleagues, on site or in the office, using digitised processes;
- Improve quality control and facilitate digital reporting by sharing your documents;
- Benefit from simple, intuitive annotation of house plans, in real time;
- Easily track the progress of tasks and deadlines, and benefit from automatically generated dashboards;
- Automate your QHSE reports and ensure compliance with the rules and standards in force.
APROPLAN
OOTI: the complete management tool designed specifically for architects
Are you an architect, interior designer, town planner or employee in a design office? Concentrate on your value-added tasks, because the OOTI management software will help you.
OOTI in a nutshell:
- Benefit from a tool that supports you in your project management, from the call for tenders to the delivery of the worksite;
- Easily manage your projects, resources and administrative tasks;
- Keep track of your budgets and finances, using the financial analyses provided by OOTI;
- Take advantage of features designed for everyone in the company: management, project managers, architects, administrative, financial and accounting managers;
- Send out fee proposals by tracking commercial opportunities;
- Take advantage of software in SaaS mode and pricing tailored to your type of business.
OOTI
Bonus: think afterwards with software to promote your projects
And to make sure you market your property projects, why not use a specialist CRM?
Leizee is an extranet and CRM dedicated to real estate professionals, with a host of features to make your real estate business easier and more automated.
Leizee in a nutshell:
- manage a product catalogue,
- post ads on 90 specialised sites,
- animate and manage sales networks,
- track sales files,
- automate sales management tasks,
- calculate interest-free loans, etc.
Leizee
Architecture professionals, don't miss a single opportunity!
As you will have realised, it's vital to surround yourself with the best software in the architecture industry. Software for creating 3D plans has to satisfy criteria of quality and ease of use. Your sales depend on your customers' vision of their future home!
However, bear in mind that the world of professional architectural software has many other advantages to offer you. By reducing the administrative burden and facilitating project management, it allows everyone in the company to concentrate on activities that are visible to the customer, and therefore essential to their satisfaction.
Which professional architecture software have you tried? Share your experience in the comments section.
Updated article, originally published in September 2018.
Article translated from French