3D plan creation: which architectural software should you choose?
The creation of 3D building plans is an invaluable asset in the real estate business. Indeed, even the most experienced salespeople know just how powerful a visualization of a future property can be in enhancing the value of a real estate project. It's an invaluable selling point for sales meetings.
However, it requires professional architectural software.
That's why we recommend that you equip yourself with 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 real estate projects. And because we recognize 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 I choose?
Towards free 3D drawing software?
Interested in free software?
You'll find some on the market, like Kozikaza. However, even if they can help you out, beware! Free software for interior design and plan creation doesn't offer the same rendering quality as paid-for software.
Even a large-scale project, such as a luxury villa, can suffer from an unfortunate perspective, a disappointing design or modeling that does the project a disservice. This can have a detrimental effect on the closing of a sale.
Above, 3D rendering of a house created with Kozikaza
Below, 3D home rendering with Cedreo
What's more, free solutions often don't include interesting features such as 360° video virtual tours. 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 more in tune with the real needs of architects and real estate salespeople.
Among them, we have selected three:
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 real estate agents and property hunters. 3D drawing is no longer the preserve of 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 whenever you need it;
- Benefit from a catalog of usable models, validated in advance by the design office;
- Save time in your calculations thanks to an automated costing module;
- Give your customers the benefit of an advanced simulation of their real estate project, thanks to the possibility of producing a 3D video.
Cedreo
Sketchup: the intuitive tool for easy modeling
Well-known and widely used by architects, Sketchup makes it easy to create visual renderings of all your architectural projects. And there's a free version, too!
Sketchup in a nutshell:
- Get started easily, with a simple, intuitive interface where other software is hard to grasp;
- 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 save 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 visualize modifications in real time.
Space Designer 3D in a nutshell:
- Work with ease thanks to this intuitive, easy-to-use tool;
- Take advantage of a fully online solution that can be adapted to all types of media (computer, smartphone, tablet) for mobile working;
- Collaborate more easily using a single software package, and become more productive;
- Take charge of data hosting and security;
- 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 impetus to be held back by administrative and organizational obligations? 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 follow-up of your worksites
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, with digitized processes;
- Improve quality control and facilitate digital reporting by sharing 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 current rules and standards.
APROPLAN
OOTI: the comprehensive management tool designed specifically for architects
Are you an architect, interior designer, town planner or design office employee? Concentrate on your value-added tasks with OOTI management software.
OOTI in a nutshell:
- Benefit from a tool that supports you in your project management, from tender to site delivery;
- Easily manage your projects, resources and administrative tasks;
- Keep track of your budgets and finances, supported by OOTI's financial analyses;
- Take advantage of functionalities designed for all company players: management, project managers, architects, administrative, financial and accounting managers;
- Send out fee proposals thanks to business opportunity tracking;
- Take advantage of SaaS mode software and pricing to suit your type of business.
OOTI
Bonus: think afterwards with software to promote your projects
And to make sure you market your real estate projects, why not call on a specialized CRM?
Leizee is an extranet and CRM dedicated to real estate professionals, with a host of features to facilitate and automate your real estate business.
Leizee in a nutshell:
- manage a product catalog,
- post ads on 90 specialized sites,
- animate and manage sales networks,
- track sales files,
- automate sales management tasks,
- calculate interest-free loans, etc.
Leizee
Architectural professionals, don't miss a single opportunity!
As you can see, it's essential to surround yourself with the best software in the architecture business. Software for creating 3D plans must satisfy criteria of quality and ease of use. Your sales depend on the customer's projection of his future home!
However, keep in mind that the world of professional architectural software has many other advantages to offer. By reducing the administrative burden and facilitating project management, it enables everyone in the company to concentrate on activities that are perceptible to the customer, and therefore essential to his satisfaction.
What professional architecture software have you tried? Share your experience in comments.
Updated article, originally published in September 2018.
Article translated from French