- What shape is the house, overall?
- Rectangular and symmetrical: National, Colonial, Neoclassical, Greek Revival, Italianate
- Square and box-like: American Foursquare
- L-shaped: Folk and National styles
- Complicated and asymmetrical: Queen Anne and other Victorian styles, Chateauesque
- Rounded corners: Pueblo, Art Moderne
- Single story or 1½ story: Cape Cod, Ranch, Craftsman, Cottage styles
- Rectangular and symmetrical: National, Colonial, Neoclassical, Greek Revival, Italianate
- Does the roof have any of these features?
- Unusually steep pitch: Gothic Revival and other Victorian styles, Tudor
- Unusually low pitch: Craftsman, Prairie, Ranch, Monterey, and Spanish styles
- Flat: Italianate, Beaux Arts, Pueblo, Mediterranean, and Modernistic
- Gambrel: Dutch Colonial
- Mansard: Second Empire and other French-inspired styles
- Hipped: American Foursquare, Colonial styles, Victorian styles
- Salt box: Colonial
- Flared eaves: French styles, Craftsman, Prairie
- Round towers: Queen Anne, Romanesque, Chateauesque, French styles
- Cupolas: Italianate, Greek Revival, Second Empire
- Rounded parapets: Mission
- Is the house sided with any of these materials?
- Adobe: Pueblo, Monterey, Spanish Colonial Revival
- Stucco: Mission, Tudor, Spanish styles
- Rough stone: Romanesque
- Patterned wood shingles: Victorian styles
- Half-timbering: Tudor, Stick, Queen Anne
- Cedar shingles: Victorian Shingle, Craftsman, Tudor
- Does the house have any of these window types?
- Multi-paned: Adam, Georgian, Neoclassical
- Diamond-paned: Tudor, Prairie
- Palladian: Adam, Colonial Revival, Neoclassical
- Round or elliptical: Adam, Neoclassical
- Oriel: Tudor, Gothic Revival, Chateauesque
- Casement: Tudor, Craftsman, Dutch Colonial, Spanish styles, modern styles
- Pointed: Gothic Revival
- Rounded with "eyebrow' hoods: Italianate
- Fanlights: Adam, Neoclassical, Colonial Revival
- Do you notice any of these details?
- Dentil moldings: Georgian, Adam, Colonial styles
- Garlands or floral ornaments: Federal, Adam, Beaux Arts
- Turned spindles: Queen Anne, Carpenter Gothic, Folk Victorian
- Zigzags or chevrons: Art Deco
- Shutters: Cape Cod and other Colonial styles
- Round, fluted columns: Greek Revival, Adam, Neoclassical, Beaux Arts
- Square or trapezoid porch supports: Craftsman, Prairie, Mission, American Foursquare
- Little or no ornamentation: National and Folk styles, Cape Cod, Ranch, Modern styles
