Why does every house seems to be called a "colonial?" (roof, windows)

[TracySam]

This really ticks me off. A colonial is a specific type of house. It usually means two stories, and a hall with stairs in the middle, and that's the loosest definition.

But it seems that all kinds of homes for sale are being called "colonials." I've seen this label applied to split levels, ranches, cape cods, and weird styles that don't fit any common category. What gives? Don't real estate agents know how to properly categorize styles of homes?

I only found one recent thread on this, but it was specific to Long Island NY:
http://www.city-data.com/forum/long-...-all-real.html

Another thing that ticks me off is when they call a bungalow a cape, or vice versa. But the colonial thing is the most common. Does anyone else get bothered by this?

[Racelady88]

Speaks highly of the real estate industry, doesn't it?

[texdav]

Personally ;i see more called a ranch than anything else.

[TracySam]

Well Dave, that makes sense if you're in "Tex"as and I'm in one of the original "Colonies".

I guess realtors think everyone in Texas wants a ranch and everyone in the Northeast wants a colonial.





Aaack! I just noticed my typo in the thread title!

[brightdoglover]

My "contemporary Cape"- too weird for any normal description
My former "lovely small contemporary bungalow/needs work" - too weird for any normal description, having some five roof lines for three rooms, aka "The house that Jack built"

Everything is called a colonial that doesn't actually fit the description of a cape or ranch (or, sigh, a saltbox- I love them here in New England). Now, there are "colonial cape" which doesn't mean anything.
But then, I've seen descriptions of both "Palladian" and "Palladium" windows to mean that boring half-circle over the gaping front entry.

Hey, if people buy them...

[K'ledgeBldr]

Just face it- real estate agents are idiots, especially the ones that have "CRS" (can't remember sh_t!) after their name.
Besides, they would need a course in architectual history to really understand why, where, and how different styles of homes came to be. Do you see that happening anytime soon?

[Ohiogirl81]

Originally Posted by TracySam

Another thing that ticks me off is when they call a bungalow a cape, or vice versa.

A lot of that is regional. The same houses called Cape Cods in NW Pennsylvania are called bungalows a mere 90 miles away in Cleveland.

[bibit612]

Originally Posted by TracySam

This really ticks me off. A colonial is a specific type of house. It usually means two stories, and a hall with stairs in the middle, and that's the loosest definition.

There are really many types of colonials so I can understand why anything two-story could be described as such. What you described above is specifically a Center-Hall colonial, where the stairs and a hall usually starting from the foyer bisects the first story of the home. Other types of colonials are the Georgian colonials, most noted for the columns and the Federalist colonials. Here is an article that describes the difference between these two in more detail.

Federal and Adam House Styles - House Style Pictures - Federal Houses and Adam Houses

[Cosmic]

Them realtor boys will call it whatever they think will get them a paycheck.

They love to be called for pay, chow and liberty call. Do not call them if you want the truth or any real work done.

[Coldjensens]

Most modern houses are a mish mash of architectural styles. Many if not all have at least some elements of colonial revival. With every possibly style mixed in somewhere, they can call it whever name sells the best at the moment. Next month they may be calling it Tudor. : )