There are many different manufacturers producing and selling a variety of software packages for the amateur and professional home and landscape designer.  All of these packages offer something different, and hopefully this article will help you choose the one that is right for you.

FEATURES TO LOOK FOR

• Full featured landscape and deck design software
• 2D as well as 3D views
• Plant finder software to allow you to choose plants based on region
• Smart, Simple and Fast drag and drop technology
• Pre-loaded templates
• Technology that allows you to build a design to match your current home
• Quick rendering speeds to bring your design to life faster
• "Building Green" features allowing you to create an environmentally friendly design
• Large Object Libraries - Several thousand objects allow you to build an almost infinite number of designs

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

• PC vs MAC - You will need to buy software that will fit your needs, depending on whether you own a PC or Apple MAC compatible computer
• Learning Curve - At first you may want to buy the software package with the most features, but generally these packages are the most difficult to learn how to use.  You will need to find the right software suite which balances the amount of features, along with a relatively quick learning curve, so you can put those features to use.
• System Requirements - Always make sure that you read the system requirements of the software before you make the purchase.  If your computer is not powerful enough to handle the package, your computer will run way to slow, and you will get almost nothing accomplished.
• User Reviews - You should be able to find user reviews by doing a simple Google or Yahoo search on the web.  Look around and read a few, to see what others have to say about the product.

WHERE TO BUY

• Local Retailers  - Your local retailer will probably provide the best customer service when helping you choose the right product, but may not have the lowest prices.
• Big Box and Wholesale Clubs - Usually low on price, and also limited on customer service.
• Online - You can find almost any Home Design Software package online.  Online retailers also may provide some of the lowest prices, as well as customer reviews to help you choose.  Many times though, it can be difficult to return an item if you do not find it to be acceptable.

So there you have it.  I hope that you find this information helpful, and good luck with your home improvement projects.