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Help for a Ho-Hum House

By Jackie Craven, About.com

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What Gives a House Character?

Victorian House

What gives this 1902 house its "character"?

Photo © Forum Member "savannahlady"

What gives a house character? Big bay windows? Porches and pillars? Pink flamingos on the lawn?

Character, or curb appeal, is that elusive quality that makes a house special. On many older homes, character comes from craftsmanship and attention to details. Suburban tract houses built after World War II are often said to lack curb appeal because they are mass produced with cookie-cutter sameness.

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