I get the appeal of physically marking things out, but honestly, I think people sometimes overestimate how much that helps. Grass and dirt don't really give you a true sense of scale—walls, ceilings, and furniture placement change everything. I'd trust detailed 3D modeling software more...
I see your point about 3D modeling, but honestly, I've found physically marking out the lot pretty helpful at times. Last year, I was working on a project where the clients were convinced their chosen lot was plenty big enough—until we staked it out and walked around. Suddenly, they realized how tight things would feel once walls and furniture came into play. Software is great, but sometimes physically standing in the space can reveal things you just don't catch digitally...
"Software is great, but sometimes physically standing in the space can reveal things you just don't catch digitally..."
Totally agree with this. Last summer, we were planning a passive solar home and had everything perfectly mapped out digitally—sun angles, shading, airflow... the works. But when we actually stood on the lot, we realized a neighbor's huge oak tree cast way more shade than we'd anticipated. Had to rethink window placement entirely. Digital tools are awesome, but nothing beats physically experiencing the site firsthand to catch those subtle details.
