THE Bay of Plenty’s new Stonewood Homes franchisees are making the most of exclusive software that helps buyers visualise their designs and better understand their budgets.

Daniel and Kirstie Wells, who bought the Bay franchise early this year, say the innovative HOMEi software gives house buyers a deeper understanding of their building projects.

They are looking forward to using it in the construction of homes across the Western and Eastern Bay.

The Bay of Plenty franchise opened earlier this month with visitors to the show home in Tauranga able to experience the software in action.

“Rather than the design process taking two-to-three months, it can be decided in one or two sessions with the client,” Mr Wells said.

The Stonewood Homes core range of house plans are loaded into the software where measurements, materials and layouts can be easily adjusted with a click of a button.

The live pricing feature shows clients exactly where their money is going and where they can save or spend to suit their requirements.

The process saves the need for initial architect or quantity surveyor consults, and significantly reduces the time and money spent in correspondence with suppliers and contractors.

“We can show clients 20 different claddings in five minutes, and they can see the exact price difference in every option. It saves them from having to go and do the research themselves and they can make their decision on the spot.”

The house plans can be manipulated on the screen, so buyers can experiment with different room sizes and usage, wall placements and design details.

“The software can be very effective in managing budgets. Clients might decide that they would rather opt for more cost-effective carpet, and when they see that cost drop down, they realise that they could put those savings into a nicer kitchen.”

Mr Wells said without the software, they would need to get an estimate cost from every subcontractor and supplier and wait to receive their responses, which would often take up to four weeks.

“In that time, clients might have lost interest or have gone to another builder, so the fact that we can generate a price for them in a few hours is really appealing.”