I have Punch AS18. We've done serious remodel to our home, and it sure is nice to have. Helped us decide some changes would not work like we had thought (with the walk through with furniture in place).

I've not done anything with the landscape part, but this version does have it.

If I had software like this when we designed our previous house, it would have ended up a lot different. You get tired of making changes when it's all done with pencil and paper (software like this was just becoming affordable back then).

When I read the reviews before buying this - most complaints where that there is a steep learning curve if you aren't good with software to begin with, or good with numbers and logic. If you can't draw up simple plans with paper, the software won't take care of that problem for you.

Also, many complained because they wanted the $100 program to do things that a $10,000 cad program is designed to do. It does not have the capabilities of getting you blue print quality plans - but if you are DIY, then you don't need to give plans to someone else to figure out, so that was not a problem for us.

We are in the forth year of our project - a major gut and rebuild of a falling down older home. We've moved every single window and door opening except one (interior) and rebuilt most of the floors and several exterior walls. We also added an addition with a basement (rest of house does not have one).

I lived in this house for about a year before we started, and spent a lot of time (months) with the software trying out different ideas before we even started. I would not even consider a project like this without good software.

here is a rendition of what we hope to end up with - but the attached garage may never happen.

Here is a floor plan, isn't quite what we are ending up with.

Cathy

Have you looked into Google Sketchup? We've done several minor plans on it and have been quite please with it - both in price (free) and in functionality.

Stacy, I did try to use google sketchup and was not able to get it to work with Vista. Haven't tried it on my other PC yet...

Cathy, I am leaning more toward Punch at this point. I shouldn't have a problem with learning the software (if I can learn adobe products, everything else is easy). I do really like the photo realistic look to it...

I'm trying to figure out which version I should get... the AS 3000 seems right, but maybe a bit more $$ than I really want to spend. I could get the landscape pro and then add on one of the AS later.... maybe I'll keep waiting for a killer deal someplace. ;)

Google SketchUp works fine on my Vista computer. I like the photo realistic features, too. My lot is on a hill so I liked being able to put in the elevation changes without showing my house buried underground. And it was very easy to learn (not to mention free, Free, FREE!). In addition to modeling my home, I have designed an electric bass fiddle (which I will be building in a few months), a water wand for washing pets (which I have already built), and a radio-controlled aerial photography airplane (which may never be built). Lest you think SketchUp is a toy because it is free, I know of graduate architecture students using it for their final projects. The weakness of SketchUp is in the final presentation, but it is great for trying things out, quick and dirty, and for final detailed designs.

DH & I do yard maintenance & a bit of landscaping in our side business (asise from our FT jobs) so here is a hint. #1 Graph paper #2 measure everything in your yard, put down all meaurements from house to fence/property line. Fill in all "existing" items such as garage, sheds, decks, pathways, downspouts, stairs, house windows, trees, shrubs etc. Make a copy then remove the items you don't plan on putting into the new landscape.
Go from there, keeping in mind how close/far some items will need to be (swing sets, sheds, pools). When planning for your planting beds, type of flowers etc..........make a list of what you like, if the plant is sun or shade or mix tolerant, what size it grows to etc. Once you know what you like then decide where you'd like to put it in your yard such as sunny areas of your yard, areas you'd like shade in the afternoon etc.
Play with your plan and see what fits. Once you have an idea, try your software if you need the visual : )
HTH : )
PS...once you have your measurements on graph paper I'd be willing to help you out if still needed : )