Hi dgreengl -- Congrats on your new home. However, your question is a little hard to answer without pruning out the lowest and second lowest sets of branches on your beautiful tree (red maple?), which is my first suggestion.

Yes, I also think the beautiful tree would benefit from a good haircut. As far as landscaping the slope goes, I would opt for terracing the area with a retaining wall between your upper neighbors and you. Filling the terraced area with plants good for your region will save you from having to mow a slope - which is NOT fun.

Great suggestion on the tree terracing of the slope... Thanks.

Actually the current owner had the tree professionally trimmed last year as it had grown all the way to the house, but they obviously did not trim the bottom branches. I agree it would look better without them, but I do love the tree!

Here is a picture of the house with no leaves on the tree which might help to see if I am crazy about my feeling of a lack of curb appeal... Not sure of the quality of the picture and appologize in advance....

Oh - now I can see the roof. You have a nice house and I think pruning those lower branches, terracing and adding some planting will do a lot to showcase it.

Since you're replacing the roof, consider a black metal roof like this one - it'll look sharp against the white:



For the garage area you may want to think about raising the overhang a bit and using the same black metal roofing there as well. You could also replace it with a trellis, something like this:



You may even want to consider replacing the garage door with opaque black framed glass like the attached. A less expensive option would be to paint it off black.

All of these things can be done over time. Since it's spring - I'd get started on the yard, first.

I think that it would be OK to prune the lowest limbs on the tree but ask an arborist.

I would advoid black on the roof because of heat absorption, but a deep grey would look good in an architectural shingle or metal roof.

I see a lot of driveway. Can you pare it down or add some pavers?

When you're in the maket for a new garage door, get one that looks like a carriage door. I big pot of flowers by the left edge of the house would add some color. Even flower baskets below the upper storey windows would look good.

Here is a mock up for a reduced driveway. There is still room to pull a second car up and park next to house, but the increase lawn balances the house better.

It gives you another area to add plantings. Continue plantings along the sidewalk edge to brighten up the front and frame the house.

Great comments all... I particularly like the idea of paring down the driveway closest to the street and adding more lawn there as I agree that it does balance the house alot... Not to mention pruning the lower branches of the tree....

I do like the idea of a metal roof. Excuse my ignorance, but could it not be considerably louder than asphalt shingles when it rains, or perhaps hails? I just am thinking of a constant "pinging" sound from a metal roof....

I probably will not relace the garage door as it is in very good shape, but have considered painting it to add contrast to the white mass of the front of the house. Any ideas on what color would be best if I do paint it?