I use cheats for building and editing townie sims that I don't like the aesthetic of. I actually love the move objects cheat for doing landscaping because I like layering lots and lots of plants :)
I used to use the motherlode cheat a lot but I've recently stopped doing that because I kinda like to challenge myself to build a life for my sims with a limited amount of money - I kind of do the rags to riches challenge with everyone unless they come from a wealthy family and then they get lots of expensive violins to sell off. But I really have fun building a bare bones home and then slowly renovating and adding nicer furniture as my sims slowly hustle to make more money.