Ok, so I would like to download a custom house for Sims 3, but it requires more expansion packs then I have. I was wondering what it might look like if I did download it and use it. Would it work? All I really want is the actual house, just the walls and the roof. I could even replace the windows if I had to. I could re-furnish, re-wallpaper, and re-floor. I just want to know if it will give me the outline. Thanks

As long as you have an equivalent (or higher) patch level as the creator of the house, you'll be able to install it and see it in your game.

Can you show the actual house you want to download, if applicable? And yes, the way things work in TS3 is that they will replace whatever items TS3 cannot find with a supposed equivalent item. For example, if you don't have Ambitions EP, and your downloaded house has laundry machines (washing, drying), then likely, once placed, your house will come with 2 stoves in place of those 2 machines (that is the best TS3 can do). And of course you will also expect some "odd" windows/doors placed upon the location the supposed EP windows would go. Downloading a house is actually downloading a "blue print" of the house, TS3 will try its best to replicate the house per instructions contained in the lot file you downloaded.

Here is the catch: once the house is placed, it is final. You cannot install the missing EP and all windows, floors, appliances, etc... will go back to what they were supposed to be. So those washing machine replacement (the stoves) would stay exactly the same. If you want to see that lot in its intended glory, you have to place again. Well, this is hardly a game crasher (if you crash, there is something else wrong with the game). But it is nice to know.

This is the house that I would like:

http://onepracticalghost.tumblr.com...-my-tudor-manor

It's called the Tutor Manor.
I will download it now that I know it probably won't cause the game to crash. Thanks for the info!!

Watch out, the CC included may say otherwise. Especially the sims3pack ones, once they go in, there is no coming out.

I downloaded the house too, it's great. But I skipped the CC.

How do I skip the CC? I've downloaded it but have not extracted anything yet or installed anything.

The good thing about this person is that he gives you the house in package format. Just put that file in "Library" folder, forget the rest. I am playing with it. The house is nice, but unfurnished. Have fun furnishing.

When I downloaded it, it is in .rar format. Am I doing something wrong?

You need to extract it with WINRAR.

Oh ok thanks.

You are less computer savvy than I expected. rar files need the free WinRAR to extract. But do not use everything. Follow the text file instruction.

For sims3pack files, don't install (for your own good). For package files, well, for the benefit of the doubt, give it a try. I am not saying you should not download CC (I have a ton). But just be very careful about it. Treat every .package file like a bomb, it can blow up right in your face. Put it in there, play the game for a while, save into a temporary save (not your main save) and see how it behaves.

I have been playing Sims since like 2004, and I am in software development and IT, but guess what? Some CC just got the best of me 2 days ago. Game constantly crashed, and gave "Error 12" on save (unable to save). How I survived? I didn't mess with my old save (the one I know is stable) and saved into a new save file to test new CC. If they work, business as usual. If they don't, at least I don't lose all my saves. And I know which CC I just installed. I just took them out 1 by 1, test, and figure out which 1 went wrong.

Oh, delete cache when you install/uninstall a CC (.package file too, not just sims3pack, even I said avoid sims3pack at all cost). If you don't know how, just ask.

Nope, don't know how to do a temp. save. Could I bother you to tell me?

you can choose "Save As" instead of "Save". you are asked to type in a new name then. thats like an alternative save for testing. so why not call it ....[same name as main game]CCtest

also i wouldnt say that every package is a bomb. but i do open all packages i download in S3OC / S3PE to take a look whats going on. further checking with delphys dashboard (it searches for dublicated, corrupted files and conflicting files) is also advisable if one downloads a lot of content. and normally thats exactly what one does sooner or later.
so as sims player since the very start i say: get familiar with tools and tutorials that help you control your CC. its the most important thing for every game that is more fun when being modified with CC. only install few items / mods at a time and make backups of your game regularly and get your stuff only from reliable sources where creators actually write a description of WHAT you are going to download. then everything is fine and smooth...

here maybe you want to check the CC Basics

Thanks for all of the help guys, it has been extremely helpful.