It’s gonna take a skilled architect and the purchase price of the house spent again to do anything real to that.

some ideas

Even landscaping blocking the view doesn’t help the White House x double wide hybrid look. It needs genuine money poured into it.

Throw a double level portico across the whole front to make the weirdness way less noticeable and a parapet around the roof. Have to be careful to keep it from looks by like a poor Greek family made good and wanted the white House.

The basic portico and parapet look:

If you’Re lucky, you can get enough off the house to finance a big chunk of it.

Only other option is really to go ultra modern on the exterior. The entry would have to be partly rebuilt then, but if the building materials are as cheap as they look, this is going to be by FAR the cheaper way to go. Doing the Federal style above would require very high quality windows and doors. Ultra modern can be more affordable.

Sorry .. It's ugly ..why dont you buy a house that you like ..it would be cheaper !

I see no redeeming features except the amount of land. Looks like a motel conversion with White House aspirations. How much money do you have to throw at this monstrosity?

I'm sure a skilled architect can figure out something for this. Contact a professional whose work you like. Houzz is a great place to find one. I agree that modern is probably the way to go and that is an awesome look. Just remember, you can always change the house but you can't change the location. And in real estate, it's location, location, location. If you love the location and the house is sound and has a good flow inside, you can figure out how to change the front. My guess is that this house is not going to fly off the market quickly, so you have time to figure this out. I like the circular front too.

I'd take an architect to the site and get his/her opinion, and the costs to do it.

Go for something like this by reworking the windows. Or repeat the tall narrow windows around the circular front.

Change the front door to repeat the vertical elements

Definitely get an architect who can do modern design and quotes from a builder who also knows how to do modern.

Break up that long front with landscaping. I don’t think going modern would work. Modern usually means minimalism, and that won’t help the ‘long white box’ look going on here.

I like the entrance, the fountains, the circular driveway and the size. I am guessing it’s about 5000 sq ft with 3-4 car garage. If I had the house I’d grow rose ramblers between the windows, to make it look dramatic......but you’re the buyer, you really should buy a house that you love, I agree with other posters. Home sweet home, there is lot of love in these 3 words. You could feel it if the house was for you, it would make your heart sing and sleepless for days. :-) I saw the word hate in your posting, I don’t think that’s the one your heart is calling for........:-)

We knew we found the right weekend house as soon as we pull in the circular driveway of a country property, it just felt like home, and that was it. We bought it and moved in 30 days later.

it lacks symmetry.

if its far (far) cheaper than any other house in the area that you like, an architect can help. otherwise keep looking. there is no simple cheap tweak.

The listing shows more detail. The changes have not been graceful since it was built in 1965.

I would double check the local schools' ratings.

Apple-pie, where is the listing? I would love to see the inside of that entrance. :-)

https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/3000-SE-Lakeshore-Blvd_Topeka_KS_66605_M74764-04328

That house has been on and off the market since 2014. I agree with apple_pie_order. Be careful, it looks like a money pit.

$$$$$$ and not easy either the whole thing is a mish mash of we can’t make up our minds .

I could live with the interior with some minor modifications but the exterior is just a hot mess!! And nothing that landscaping would help.

I have to say that we see a lot of very plain Jane residence exteriors on the Landscape Design forum but most can be improved with some simple cosmetic upgrades and some landscaping. This one is well beyond "plain Jane" and borders on the butt ugly side of the scale.

Sorry to be so blunt but I really cannot see what is attractive about this property at all.

Thanks for the link! Love the entrance!! A 2 story high gym?! You can make it into a ballroom on holidays!!! It should be sold by now within the next 10 mins. :-) That entrance holds some magic. What a great price! Why the property tax is so cheap in KS?! I don’t see basement is on the list...... I have to say all big houses are money pits. Lol The roof would cost you about $40,000 or more to replace......

Even if your pockets are deep, you'll never recoup extensive expense on resale, especially in Topeka. Anyone in the market for a $300,000+ house in the Sunflower State is going to want much newer McMansion construction, not an older White House meets Interstate No-tell Budget Motel. Considering the questionable design decisions and price tag, I'd have the house throughly inspected. I'd also ask for at least a 12 month history of utility bills. They might be exceptionally high with the pool and the indoor basketball court. If you really do love it and it's structurally sound, make an aggressive offer. Don't pour any money into it you think you'll get back and plan to be there for the long haul.

How does the homeowner’s insurance work in KS? I know there are a lot of tornados over there, the roof might need more repairs than normal due to the weather. The utility bills would be more than a normal sized house for sure. I know the winter is not warm over there, but a brick home should keep the heat pretty good. Natural gas is much cheaper than propane and oil, it shouldn’t be too bad......this house is one of the kind indeed. Still can’t believe there is an indoor 2 story tall gym.....how many homes have that in the US?? :-)

Looking at the listing ..it looks like a prison block with all that chainlink and the flat roof ..I really wouldn't buy it !

There are some tasty grapes on the chainlink fence Snaggy. You could cover the fence with fragrant climbing roses. Does it sound better now? :-) I think they fenced in for dogs ....., and the ballroom, the music......can’t you all picture that? Need some huge chandeliers in there.......

Some rose ideas:

https://www.gardenclinic.com.au/how-to-grow-article/using-climbing-roses?pid=44199

http://www.southernliving.com/garden/flowers/peggy-martin-rose

https://www.davidaustinroses.co.uk/lady-hillingdon

http://www.houseandgarden.co.uk/outdoor-spaces/features/plants-for-window-boxes-front-gardens-climbing-plants

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/467881848769641689/

https://www.davidaustinroses.com/us/mme-alfred-carriere-english-climbing-rose

https://www.davidaustinroses.com/us/david-austin-rambling-rose-collection-3-roses-1

Wow didn't know this was in Topeka! Mmmm I dunno aprilycummings. IF you have to live in Topeka, there are better places to be had. Are you & hubs opposed to commuting? What about Lawrence? It's just a 1/2 hour away and feels like it's in a different universe.

That house looks likes it’s having an identity crisis. I think Tozmo1 has the right idea on how to improve it, but it may be a budget buster. How long has it been on the market? Are there similar homes like it on the market? I always tell my buyers that they always need to think about resale, circumstances change and you never know if you will need to sell.

I agree with "why buy this house?" If a budget is truly wide open, find an empty lot or tear-down and build something that is perfect in all ways, not just on the inside. It would be costly to make this house right.

It looks like that’s the cheapest for that size in the area. It’s a good opportunity for someone to own a big home. I hope someone sees the beauty of this property become the next keeper.

It’s horrible, sorry. It does look like a motel with White House aspirations as decoenthusiaste said. If I were house hunting with a realtor I would tell the agent “don’t stop, I don’t care what it looks like inside “, let’s look for something else! That is truly the ugliest house I’ve ever seen, inside & out. I couldn’t even make it through all of the listing pictures ... yikes! “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” vibe.

Don't walk away, run.

Lol, yes with top speed run inside and submit an offer! :-) Got ya!

Yep, the inside is as bad or worse than the outside. It's a teardown.

I’m curious as to why they think they can get $61 a square when the average for the area is $50?

Do you think that the OP is really the HO and searching for feedback for the listing appeal?

The pantry is very nice.

I just looked again, I don’t see anything bad inside and out, the look from outside can be fixed by landscaping design to balanced out. For the people who dislike this house would you please give out some details? I wish I could buy this house and invite you guys out there for a holiday ballroom dance and cheap BBQ (Don’t know how to cook). :-)

I hope OP is not the HO, you guys could broke someone’s heart on Holidays.......

If you can’t see that the home has zero architectural integrity, inside or out, and was remuddled with the cheapest of cheepchinesecrapola that exists, then I don’t know what to say. Other than develop some discernment if you are at all interested in design.

I was comparing this home with normal homes most of us have. It’s solid since 1965. I don’t think it’s fair to compare it with expensive and well designed homes at all. The price is cheap for what you can get, we shouldn’t look for high end finishing and design though. It’s not an expensive house to start with. How many of us have better homes than this one?

Got your point of view. Thanks for your input.

Yes, the price is cheap, cheap for a reason, obvious reasons... plural!

I really want to know this house's backstory. While I've never lived in Topeka, I knew a family who used to live within minutes of this house, so I sort of know the area. Was it always a single family residence? I kind of suspect that it was built for another purpose. There is some sort of "club pool" next door, which makes me wonder if this white elephant of a house was part of some sort of private club that existed in the 60s that became defunct. Was this property sold and converted (badly) into a single family residence sometime in its history? It's surrounded by typical 70-80s era ranches and split-levels. Any Topeka Houzzers out there know the story of this property?

Was this a school, or part of a campus, at some time in the past?

Lordy daisy, that is a nightmare inside and out. There must be something better.

I am wondering if the owner had a home business there. What's in photo #19? It doesn't look like a massage bed........a treatment table? A doctor's office on the 2nd floor? Check photo #19-21. Physical therapy center? And photo#27, the lockers in the gym.........there was a business in that house. Ha! What do you guys think??

LOL, I thought it was a foosball table in a game room, who knows. I think it was a house built by someone who was heavily involved with youth perhaps through a church or a sports club. I have known such people who yes, do have considerable money and this is how they want to spend it, sharing their good fortune. This isn't the first house I've seen with a basketball court in it. I also knew a family who were very much into square dancing and they had a facility added to their house to host square dancing practice for their club. It's nice to see people who can enjoy their home and not have to worry about resale value. So back to aprilycummings' original question about the house that she stated is "perfect for family and in a great school district." If you aren't scared away by all these opinions, hope the pros and cons have been helpful. All the best to you! I'm curious to know what you decide.

Lol, I hope you are right, not a business. :-) That would be really a good deed for the community.

...that's a air hockey table...

How is a house with abysmal school district ratings in a good school district?

Welcome to Kansas, Sophie. What's considered "great" is all relative. Imagine what the ratings are like in a district that is perceived by the public as being crummy! School funding has been a hot topic for our state legislature and the Kansas Supreme Court for years. Underfunded schools, large class sizes, chronic teacher vacancies in rural areas (which we have a lot of here) as well as in the intercity schools of Wichita and Kansas City, KS. Don't get me wrong because there are some great schools and educators here, but on a wider rating scale, sometimes it feels like you are looking the best of the worst.

Not salvageable. It would cost more to take that house from hideous to kinda ugly than it would to build a nice, basic 2000 sq ft house in Topeka. Don’t buy it.

I hope someone would buy the house and keep the good deed going.......if the house was near me, I’d put in an offer. I could open an after school program (non profit) for the kids in my neighborhood, to help the parents out. The cost for after school programs are pretty high these days.