Drive around (or use google streetview) to look at paint color combinations of new houses in your area. Pick one with a light gray roof and copy the paint color combo. Sage green walls and off white or reddish trim are fashionable in many areas now.

Add two big bright kneehigh pots with blooming bougainvillea, and plan to water them yourself every few days. Don't expect the tenant to do it. If watering is not feasible, just clean the front porch up as much as possible. Offer the tenant a cash incentive for being cooperative to get the house sold quickly.

The yard needs cleanup, the mailbox palm needs a lot of the fronts cut off, the foundation shrubs need pruning, water and fertilizer. I would remove the prickly pear cactus. You may need another load of gravel (or some bark) for the other side of the front yard.

The various doodads around the front door could be removed with cooperation from the tenant. Add a new light fixture or shine up the existing one.

HI -- All is not lost on this house but getting to chic might not be the word but shooting for cute could be . Landscaping is the big one --- sell to a landscaping company , the two palms and any cactus and any other not liked plants . Next -- remove the little awnings , but keep for maybe painting and replacing later if needed or if in bad shape then get rid of. Have a small fence or wall put on the ridge line of the roof to hide the mechanical -- maybe a wrought iron railing ??? Paint the house a sandy color or a creamy light yellow -- colors in the southwest style . Have the window grills in black . Paint the front door Turquoise or a rusty color .. Rusty Nail by Benjamin Moore paints come to mind . Now the landscaping -- just do some big rocks and some drought resistant plants and then gravel ground cover . Then add some big bright colored pots/planters or some metal galvanized animal water troughs and bright flowers . Maybe add some wide wood trim or tiles around the front door.

Hi! This house has got to be in Phoenix or Tucson!

Before you paint: Remove palm tree and all plants except the tree in front. If there are landscape bricks under windows (planter) remove that and the brick post? by the sidewalk. This yard will be better off without all of the old growth, It needs a fresh clean look. Then either clean up the gravel or remove and add sod. However, if you are in Phoenix you will need to wait a few weeks before planting sod or it will just burn right up.

Next, paint the house a nice crisp lean color. with a crisp trim and colorful door. If in Phoenix, then leave the awnings and repaint them. With our 120 degree weather, they need to stay if you can make them look nice.

You don't have a lot of wood fencing, so it would probably be in your best interest to just replace it. Move the recycle bin to the carport.

I would probably go ahead and paint it white again with the grey trim and window frames. Paint the awning and door, burgundy, dark green, dark blue. Paint the utility room door solid white.

I wouldn't worry about trying to hide the mechanical on the roof since it is typical of the area.

I would also paint the shed to match the house because it is visible in front.

You don't want to overcapitalise. Paint window awning same colour as the roof and front door maybe bright sunny yellow. Spend some time and money on landscaping , that's what is missing there . Include some yellow flowers in the garden and you are done.

Are you fixing it to rent out again or sell it or to move into it or just because it needs it? It does look like a Phoenix or Tucson location. Is that true? It helps to know a general area for landscaping suggestions.

On a practical level, I think extending the carport forward to provide shade for a second car might be a good idea. It could also add some visual interest. Screen off the neighbour's side, perhaps?

Doing something with that big expanse of brown ground and removing the left palm tree will help a lot. If you cannot plant grass, here is an idea:

Yes home is in Tucson. This photo was taken a while back, I believe the landscape has been cleaned up, and replaced with a fresh coat of gravel. We have some updating of insulation and things to do on the house itself before we sell it. It is in a neighborhood of cookie-cutter homes. Laughing as "chic" does seem like a stretch!! Thank you all for so many ideas!