HELP buildmode

[princessheard]

Hi im having problems with the sims 2. Everytime i go into a residential lot i click on the build mode but none of the icons are highlighted in build mode, the only ones that are highlighted are the floors and wall icon but when i go into a residential lot everything is highlighted again. Does anyone know what wrongs and what may fix this?

[dreadwolf]

a little more info would help (exp) ep's and sp's installed is it happing in the hood or sub hood like uni or ofb
if in uni is it a dorm if it is not all building tools are available and you will have to use  cheats: Enables all building mode tools boolprop dormspecifictoolsdisabled false: Disables some building mode tools boolprop dormspecifictoolsdisabled true
and if it is an  apartment you can change from apartmentbase to residential do your building then change back by useing  changeLotZoning residential and changeLotZoning apartmentbase

[princessheard]

I have sims 2 base game, seasons, uni, ofb, apt life, pets variety pack which comes with pets, family fun stuff and mansion/garden stuff, and i also have night life.. I have to insert the pets disk to play sims 2. I downloaded the apartment but even when i use the maxis apartments i still get the same problem and also when i build my own apartments i still get the same problem but when i go into a residential lot everything works fine and everything in the build mode shows up fine. Im not sure whats wrong but its weird because it just started a couple weeks ago. I even tried uninstalling all of the games then reinstalling but the same problem occurs.

[Engram]

This is normal. Once a lot has been converted to an apartment lot you can only change certain things about it, such as wall and floor covering, but you cannot move walls around, etc. In order to do that you need to change the lot back into a residential lot using the changelotzoning cheat, exit to neighbourhood, go back in. It should then be a residential lot, with a residential mailbox. Make your changes then change the lot zoning back to apartment, exit to neighbourhood and go back into the lot to have it function as an apartment again.

[princessheard]

Im not able to place a car on the driveway that came with the apartment and even when i built my own apartment i wasnt able to place a car on the driveway that i added.. Thats my main concern.

[Engram]

Cars can only be placed in a garage that is connected to an apartment. The car needs to be in a space considered "private property" by the game. An exterior parking spot is considered "public property" and cannot have a car placed on it.

[princessheard]

how do i get a private property space?

[HappyThoughts]

private drives for apartments can only be done with the add-on drive way peice with the garage door, it must be closed in.  I have finished a 4 unit with private drives for each, and yes it takes forever.  A good way to get a look at what it looks like is Belladonna Parkway Apartments (in your lot bin assuming you didn't delete it already and I'm only slightly sure thats the name of it) 
 
Never change the lot to apartment base UNTIL your positive you have everything finished, once you've changed it to an apartment the build options will be unselectable apart from wall/floor coverrings, garden stuff, and columns.  Only move in one family or sim to test the apartment to make sure it functions the way you want it too.  I don't know how many times I've had to move my sims in and out of my apartments fixing missed details.  And as the others have mentioned you will have to convert it back to a residential lot to fix any problems, leave and return to the lot to reopen the build options, then re convert it to a an apartment again. LOL Good times, I hope you've figured this out.  There's also a nice tutorial if you google sims2 building apartments.