Do you have to have a Sim to build?

[Joria]

In Sims 3  I could go into Edit Town mode before I chose a Sim to play and build whatever I wanted to build without having to have funds to do it with.  Is this sort of thing possible in 4?  When I start up my game I only see a "Play" option, or make a sim, so how do you just build without having to have a Sim or is this not possible?  Would you need a money cheat then to build with a Sim?

[JudesSims]

Joria, I had to do the motherlode cheat.

[MeesterPepper]

Click on Play. It will ask you to select a household to play as - at this time, you can choose a lot with no Sims (an empty lot, a community venue, a house-in-progress, whatever) and select the "Build" bubble option.

[grimsoul]

Click on Play. It will ask you to select a household to play as - at this time, you can choose a lot with no Sims (an empty lot, a community venue, a house-in-progress, whatever) and select the "Build" bubble option.

Every time I try this I get a Game failed to load error
It's recommended you restart the game.

[Joria]

On the opening screen I chose load game since I had games saved.  I picked one.  When I went into the next mode where you can choose your Sim to play instead I clicked on a different, empty, house and chose it.  Then I could choose build, create a Sim to play in that house, or 3rd option I can't remember.  I chose build.  It took me to the house which I could then remodel, bulldoze or leave alone.  I would not need any funds to build or remodel since I'm not playing my Sim.  Phew. 

Now to play around with the different filters.  I do like that idea since you can choose a style of house to build and I'm not familiar with all different kinds of styles, ie. Queen Anne, Country Farm, Traditional, Contemporary were some of the styles I could choose from.  Now if I could just get my tilt absolutely right I think I'll be able to build again.