For anyone who plans to build a new house, home design software can seem like a dream come true. But with so many programs to choose among, how does the Do-it-Yourselfer (DIYer) decide? Start by answering these questions:

1. What device will you be using?

These days the consumer is in the driver's seat of availability, and remember that YOU are the consumer. Digital products have been reconfigured and repackaged for any 'now' device — software on a PC, app for a mobile device, and 'the Cloud' for sharing between devices.

Home design software used to be problematic because highly graphical software needed a lot of memory and power, which was expensive in early computers. These days most everything is visual, so DIY two-dimensional (2-D) and three-dimensional (3-D) rendering software is less of an issue. The device you choose, however, may affect the overall experience you have, so consider what device you'll be using.

System Requirements — Remember wondering if your computer was powerful enough? It used to be that before you bought any software for your PC, you had to make sure your computer system (e.g., graphics card) met the requirements to run the program. These days products are often downloaded from a company website, so the downloading application checks your system before it loads — generally you don't even need to know what operating system (OS) you are using. The speed of your Internet connection, however, becomes the biggest factor in downloading software, which makes the concept of 'net neutrality' a more personal and less political issue. Do you pay extra for speed you don't always use? You might like the hands-on CD or DVD you can readily load yourself, but even Amazon.com is turning to downloads.

The Cloud — Cloud Computing is not an atmospheric trick. Some people are intrigued by this way of working even if there is no such thing as a Cloud. Computer servers and drives are all involved — they're just not in your own home. Some software is 'cloud-based,' meaning you don't have to download or install much of anything — you are using the 'software as a service' (SAAS). So, if you don't mind whether or not your designs and visions are located on various equipment owned by companies around the world, the Cloud is very handy, especially if you want to share your work or use different devices. Depending on security, you could be sharing your work and your home furnishing and appliances tastes and interests — information that may interest a mass marketer — with anybody or everybody.

Free Testing — Since you may be on the product's website, take a look around to see what's offered as free online support from the company. A robust amount of help and suggestions that are clear and well-written may save you hours of frustration. Also, is there a 'chat' function that pops up and who is chatting? Before you buy an app for your phone or mobile device, get a free version — you want to be able to easily move objects around on the screen space of the device you already have. For example, you can try out Room Planner by Chief Architect for free — you can't save what you create, but you'll be able to tell how easy or difficult it is to use.

2. What's your learning curve?

Some home design programs can be challenging. Computer novices will need to spend time reading the manual and working through online tutorials. For out-of-the-box simplicity, opt for a basic program with a minimum of special features.

3. What do you want to do?

Do you want to dabble, play, or try your hand at creating the next prize-winning architectural design? A simple program with basic features is all you need to try out your creative ideas. Before you splurge, experiment with a free drawing program like Google SketchUp or bargain-priced software like IMSI TurboFLOORPLAN Instant Architect. You can have a lot of fun using Home Designer^® by Chief Architect. It may take a couple of days to get used to how the software operates — home design software seems to have its own language — but once you get the hang of it, the options are engaging.

Or maybe you have a more specific task in mind. It's helpful to know what you want to do.

Draw a Simple Floor Plan — If all you want to do is draw simple floor plans, you might not need a high powered graphics program or software for drawing 3D images. Instead, try an easy, free online drawing tool.

Prepare to Build — Most home design software for DIYers isn't as powerful as the CAD and BIM programs used by architects and engineers. You won't be able to draft blueprints or construction-ready drawings. With some programs, however, you can create designs with enough detail to give your pro a jump start. For example, Chief Architect Home Designer Suite will let you select from a huge library of cabinets, colors, and other features. Choose the entire suite of Chief Architect software and you can also plan complex electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems.

Add Curb Appeal to an Existing Home — Many programs will let you import your own photograph and add new landscape features. However, you really don't need home design software if your goal is to view paint colors or make other cosmetic changes to your house. Instead, choose a paint color software program or even photo editing software.

Create a Presentation — Some home design software is particularly friendly to teachers, sales representatives, realtors, and budget-minded architects who have to present designs to the public. Many programs allow you to record voice narratives and create animated views of finished interior and exterior designs. The virtual 'walk-through' has become a very popular feature, and it's completely automated — you don't have to do a thing except create a pathway through your design.

Work on a School Project — If you're facing a tight deadline, pick software that's quick and easy to use. Most school projects don't require enormous libraries of colors and details. Opt for simplicity over bells and whistles. Student designers who enter the Solar Decathlon every other year have varying degrees of success in their digital presentations — often the built structures looks much better than the drawn.

4. What if you hate digital devices?

Not to worry. People were building houses long before the Digital Age. Remember when the vinyl-stickable-Colorforms were high-tech? Well, plastic-on-plastic is still well-suited for virtually moving furniture around a room. Check out Home Quick Planner: Reusable, Peel & Stick Furniture & Architectural Symbols or Room and Furniture Layout Kit by Muncie Hendler. There's something about getting your hands on things, even if they're peel-and-stick-and-re-stick. Free audio downloads for windows 10.

FAST FACTS: Top Home Design Software for DIYers

• Home Designer Suite by Chief Architect
• Virtual Architect Home Design Software
• Punch! Home & Landscape Design Essentials
• TurboCAD TurboFloorPlan Home & Landscape

With the housing market in such rough shape, sellers are pressed to make their home as functional and inviting as possible.

For everything from quick fixes and complete remodels, do-it-yourselfers are increasingly looking online for design guidance. These tools will help you create the designs you've always wanted (or at least the ones that will help you move to your next home).

Home design tools

Armstrong Design Tools Armstrong's Design Tools lets you pick any room in an imaginary home, and mix and match potential wall colors, flooring, trim, and countertops. Once you change everything in the room to fit your desire, you can save the room's design and share it with friends.

Color-a-Room Better Homes and Gardens' Color-a-Room tool lets you change the paint schemes of any room in the house. Once you pick the room, you can choose the color you like for your walls. From there, you can find window treatments and save the room for future viewing. If you want to work on the outside of your home, you can pick the paint colors for your roof, siding, shutters, or window trim. As with the Armstrong tool, you won't be looking at a representation of your home, per se, but it will give you a better idea of what might work in your space.

Deck Designer If you're planning on adding a deck to your house, Deck Designer is a great place to start. The tool lets you choose the size, shape, and color of your deck. You can decide where to put it, add stairs and railings, and save as many designs as you want. When complete, you can print out a full listing of the materials you need, as well as tips on how to install it.

Design Basics Design Basics is a fine resource to consult when you start building a new home or add on to an existing structure. You can search for floor plans based on the number of bedrooms you're looking for, how many levels you want, and much more. Once you find the house you like, you can buy both the blueprint and the 3D design. But beware that the charges are quite high--some blueprints cost as much as $1,000, while 3D design fees can be even higher.

Google SketchUp Pro 7 Google SketchUp Pro 7 is designed for those who want to create 3D models. It's also a handy tool when you want to design an addition to your home. The app asks you to input the area of your structure to ensure that all measurements are precise. It also applies colors and textures (of your choosing) to help you create a 3D representation of what you want to build. It's a well-designed tool, but it costs $495. There is a free version available, but it's not as capable as the paid version.

HGTV.com Whether you want to redesign a bathroom, remodel your kitchen, or add a new room to your home, HGTV.com will give you all the resources you need to do it. The site is filled with how-to videos and tools that show you different color themes for rooms throughout your house. One of its best features is its message board, which is filled with active discussions on topics ranging from buying real estate to remodeling.

Paint Designer The Paint Designer tool helps you determine what color paint you want in rooms throughout the house. Once you pick the place you want to paint, the tool's palette feature lets you flip through different shades of your desired color. When you find what you like, you can estimate the cost of your project with the built-in calculator.

PointclickHome PointClickHome, associated with the magazines Elle Decor and Metropolitan Home, boasts some outstanding resources for redecorating or remodeling your home. The site's remodeling guide gives you loads of information on topics ranging from flooring to cabinets for any room in the house. PointClickHome's 'Room Finder' tool lets you sift through photos of classic, modern, and contemporary styles for any room.

SeeMyDesign SeeMyDesign lets you create a room from scratch. You can arrange furniture, decide where to put doors, and even erect walls. If you want to paint a pre-existing room, you can input its dimensions and estimate the total cost of your project with the app's built-in calculator. It's a simple tool, but it's worth trying out.

The top 3

Want the best tools to help you redesign your home? Here you go:

1. Armstrong Design Tools

If you want to check the disk, you have the option to correct errors, scan the USB drive, and check if it's dirty. There are two options when you format your disk. As the drive is formatting, Using USB Disk Storage Format Tool provides detailed information about the current process as well as additional details about your USB drive. Usb flash driver format tool (ufix-ii) download. You can perform a quick format or a verbose format which is more thorough and takes longer to process the drive.

2. Paint Designer

3. HGTV.com

Turn a photo into an Excel spreadsheet: Microsoft's new tool for Android phones saves you endless time.

Save on Netflix, Amazon, HBO and Spotify: Credit cards for cord-cutters offer cash back for streaming.