Rating: 
Summary: Much worse than version 3.0 and incompatible
Review: I have used version 3.0 quite a lot. This program is not close to as good, and was incompatible with my older drawings.
Rating:
Summary: Terrible!!!!!!!!
Review: This program is the BIGGEST disappointment. It wasn't working when I first installed it. I had to upgrade it to version 5.1 and disable all hardware acceleration just to make it work. Yes, it is easy to use and it is quite ergonomical. I thought it would speed up the project that I was doing in autocad. My mistake. Do not waste your time with it. After completing 90% of the project this program created a glitch within the file and now refuses to draw walls. Obviously, the technical support was useless. I tried to convert my data into DXF (Autocad format) and VRML (a common www 3d format). Both conversions failed. STAY AWAY FROM THIS PRODUCT.
Rating:
Summary: Don't be suckered into 3-D Professional 5.0
Review: Have used many CAD products including AutoCad. Have used 3-D 1.5 for many small projects. Bought 5.0 several months ago and was shocked to find that it was an entirely different product than previous versions and without an upgrade option. I threw it in the trash as I did not think it was even as good as the old 1.5 product. Maybe 4.0 is an improvement on 1.5, don't know. I will never buy a product from this software publisher again.
Rating:
Summary: Dissappointing at the least
Review: I purchased 3D Home Architect 5.0 and later upgraded to 3D Architect 5.1. The form says rate this product from 1 to 5 stars but if there was a "0" this is what I would give it. The software has many design functions for creating your own home or remodling a room. However the software is very unstable. After hours of working on my project (restarting 4 seperate times) the program simply locks up or becomes corrupt. Tools work sometimes and somtimes they don't. There is absolutely NO consistency to the program. I called Tech support several times and they are clueless to the functionality of their own product.
BUYER BEWARE......... STAY AWAY!!!
Rating: 
Summary: It's really a decent product
Review: I really don't understand what all of the negative hoopla is about. It seems many people think it's just "difficult" software, which is what I initially thought. I bought it about 3 months ago on the recommendation of a friend who is an engineer. I thought it sucked - very basic looking and no wizards! I finally sat down this weekend and used it and found that it is very easy to learn and very customizable. Granted the library of objects such as funishings is limited but you can customize any item you want. In this age of wizard based software I think many of are just plain lazy. BTW, I'm new to all of this and have never used a program like this before. If I can learn this stuff it shouldn't be so hard for everyone else.
Rating:
Summary: Surely not intended for split-level home expansions!
Review: Was using old Total Home Deluxe 3.0 by Broderbund, worked well, but crashed too often as not designed for XP..So 'upgraded' to 3D-HAD-5.0 (then 5.1), and (as several reviewers noted) not compatible w/ anything..OK, start from scratch..after figuring out a highly counter intuitive UI, found that the only way to design a split-level home (which i am expanding) was to explicitly enter floor and ceiling offsets from ground level..did that , but windows placed on 1st level appear near floor level!..tech support said that is b/c it 'thinks' its the same level and make sure no walls from 2nd floor are touching walls from first floor..Excuse me?!? it is a split-level and of course the walls touch! (but even when i separated the walls, the windows still were on the ground)..also 3d rendering/rotating was excruciatingly slow (and i have 512MB ram . 2ghz pentium4)
Rating:
Summary: Actually 0 stars DON'T DO IT
Review: I wish I had read these reviews before I bought this!!! And I bought it when it was $59.95!!!!!!!!! I have had Broderbund Home Designer 5.0 for about 4 months now. Three years ago I used 3D Architect Vers. 1.0 to remodel my kitchen and it was great. So, I decided to buy 3D Architect Professional 5.0 to design my Master Suite (converting two BRs and a bath to do it) and remodel my back yard and pool....completely. To begin, all Broderbund architectural products' names are similarly named. I thought the "professional" 5.0 included (and was led to believe by skimming the info on it) the landscape design program. You can even switch to landscape mode but NOTHING happens! After calls to tech support and customer service asking why I can't get to the landscape portion, I (not they) realized I had to buy 3D Home Landscape. So I went to buy it, installed it and went to use the program and still no landscape mode. Long story short...after many frustrating calls and e-mails, I (again me, not they) discovered how the two programs merge together to form one program (if installed in a certain method and order) named yet another program name...3d Home Designer 5.0. Unbelievable! Again, long story short...after limping through a multitude of crashes, letters to tech support and getting answers back e.g., "I don't know, I don't use the program" and countless other frustrating and irritating things, today was the last straw. I opened the program and four months of re-creating my four bedroom tri-level home and yard are gone to waste. As soon as I open the program to do anything, it crashes. I have re-installed and to no avail. BY ALL MEANS, save yourself the frustration and look for another package. I used to work in the computer industry up until '98 and Broderbund typifies the reason I got out...mediocrity!! If you are doing a very simple two room house, want to WOW your friends or clients twirling the house around, do walk thrus (on the computer, can't make a separate walk thru file and send to someone), or you want your three-year old to be an architect and start them off early...buy it! Otherwise...go back to the ole drafting board....which is what Broderbund ought to do.
Rating:
Summary: One Star Too Many!
Review: I am an experienced software used, and a past design draftsman; I have used all types of graphical software, but, this was the worst I have ever seen. Nothing works as it is supposed to, and when you check out the manuals or help, all you get is the same very limited information. I tried to create a second floor, but in spite of everything I tried, couldn't find our how to make the stairs extend through to the upper level. One additional item - the catalog of furnishings is so limited, its worthless. And the architectural items are even worse - there isn't even a standard patio door! I went back to Version 3.0 - easier to use, better library, and the software actually works. I always trusted Broderbund for providing quality software at decent prices, but they should be ashamed for even offering this garbage. I have lost confidence in this company.
Rating:
Summary: Commenting on other comments
Review: First, I DON'T OWN THIS PROGRAM and have never tried it. I had to pick a rating to write this review, so I picked a 4. I mainly wanted to respond to Mr. Hutchinson who warned people that Broderbund's version 5.0 is NOT an evolution from version 4.0 but an entirely new program that is incompatible. Mr. Hutchinson recommends Chief Architect version 5.0 as the true successor to version 4.0. I'll concede his point, since I don't know otherwise. However, what he doesn't tell you is that the Broderbund version 5.0 is $30, whereas the Chief Architect version 5.0 is $500!!!!! My 12-year-old, 8th-grade daughter, as a result of a school assignment, showed an interest, and a flare, for home design. I thought it might be nice to give her a program such as this for Christmas and see if it captures her imagination. $30 I can afford. $500 would be ridiculous for such a gift. My requirements: easy and fun to use, and rewards the user with a 3-D rendering of their idea. I don't care what it's compatible with. I don't care that it only prints on 8 x 11 paper. And, I don't care if the software could actually be used for a real home project. My teeny-bopper will not be designing homes any time soon. Mr. Hutchinson didn't claim there was anything egregiously wrong with this program - only that it falls short of the Chier Architect software. OK, fine. Send me $470 and I'll go for the other one.
Rating:
Summary: Please do not waste your money.
Review: Anytime I start to get anywhere on a drawing, it gets "corrupted". At least that's what tech support is telling me. After a while of working I am unable to insert items anymore. I was told that it may not be suitable for my machine, even though my PC far surpasses the minimum requirements specified by Broderbund. This is not only an inferior product, it is an outright headache. I've wasted many hours only to lose drawings (even though I back up often).
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