from focus group participants, marketing consultants, designers, engineers, trade contractors and others to develop new designs or fine-tune existing ones. (Be sure not to post those images where the public can see them, or your competition may scoop you.). You can also e-mail digital materials to your research team.
In addition, once you’ve defined your product, you can use the same technological tools to nail down selections and options with your customers because CAD lets them see their choices “in place.” The ability to customize a house online can be a powerful sales tool, too, one that busy prospects or out-of-town customers will especially appreciate.
Don't become so enamored of CAD software that you lose sight of what you really need it to accomplish. First focus on your finished product.
Answering the following questions before you purchase your CAD software will help put the technology into proper perspective:
- What market(s) are you building for?
- What elevations, floor plans, specifications, materials, finishes, etc., will suit potential buyers’ wants and needs?
- What structural options will you allow?
- How will your designs impact product selections and vice versa?
- How can you differentiate your product from other home builders’ designs?
- How can you adapt your designs for changing markets and demographics?
- How can your home designs be value engineered to lower labor and material costs and increase energy efficiency?
- If you decide to go it alone, do you have the expertise to design the product yourself?
Answering these questions will help you focus on your design whether you use CAD, integrate your design software with estimating software, hire a designer to produce them or draw your plans by hand. As with the other processes discussed earlier in the tech talk series, know where you’re headed with product design and development before you plunk down money for technology solutions.
While you’re doing your homework before purchasing, don’t forget to consider the expertise of your design and estimating staffs in the technology.
They may know CAD software options inside out and be able to advise you on the technology’s pros:
- Impressive 3-D modeling and walkthrough capability
- Extensive libraries that let you instantly “swap” products and materials on screen
And its cons:
- Some programs can be expensive.
- Some may require steep learning curves to master.
But whether your staffers are CAD whizzes or are totally new to the technology, be prepared to invest in training because every CAD program is different.
Some CAD products (like Chief Architect) can be integrated with third-party estimating programs. Others (like Timberline Office) offer fully integrated design, estimating and take-off modules in one package. Fully integrated packages are extremely convenient but, as we’ve mentioned before, they can be pricey.
Earlier Articles in This Series
- To read, “Know Your Technology Needs Before You Invest,” Part 1 of this series, published April 14, click here.
- To read, “Strategic Planning Software Can Help Focus Your Business Model,” Part 2 of this series, published April 21, click here.
- To read, “Does Your Planning Software Match Your Project's Sophistication?,” Part 3 of this series, published May 5, click here.
Next: Managing prospects and buyers
Note: Various software products are mentioned throughout the tech talk series. The intent is not to recommend these products as being right for you, but to identify some fairly well-known players and to note a few new ones. My apologies to vendors who are not mentioned — the omission was not intentional.
Bill Allen is president of W.A. Allen Consulting and a member of NAHB’s Business Management & Information Technology Committee. His company, headquartered in Redmond, WA, provides information technology consulting services and process management assistance to the home building industry. Allen can be reached at 425-885-4489 or via e-mail. Or visit the W.A. Allen Consulting Web site.
Want more information about using technology in your business? Check out the online resources available from NAHB’s Business Management Department: “Tools for Running Your Business.” There are also articles about human resources, financial management, sales, production, customer service and other business-related topics. In addition, visit the NAHB Software Users Network Discussion Forum (SUN) to ask technology consultants and other builders what they think of various software packages and applications.
BuilderBooks.com also offers a variety of publications about strategic planning and business management. To view or purchase these publications online, click here.
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