Buy the best looking garage door you can afford or can't afford.

What Mark said. Because the garage door is by far the most noticeable feature of this home.

Post pictures when the house is complete. It’ll be easier to give advice then.

Do you have an HOA?

Can you not have white posts? I would do stained and a wood look or wood garage door.

Thanks all! I appreciate your input and will definitely post pictures when the home is complete.

Yes, we do have an HOA (sigh) and hope that they will allow us to use some of these great ideas!

If HOA allows, be sure the lantern lights are 1/3 of the front door's height. Will they allow a bright pop of color on your front door? I would avoid rocks or pea gravel at all costs.

Thanks, @decoenthusiaste - I do believe they will allow a bright color for the front door! What would you replace the pine straw with given the choice?

Cypress mulch was what my landscaping prof relied on. It has a natural color, repels insects and degrades slowly into the soil. Avoid any synthetic or dyed mulch.

Get the best looking garage door you can find and DO NOT paint it white (or any contrasting color) unless you want it to be the only thing one sees as one drives up. Instead paint it the same color as the house so it fades into the house. Then choose a bold color you like and paint the front door that color so it leads your eye to the front door.

Most of the other stuff needed will be landscaping once the house is finished.

I would investigate surfaces for your driveway besides the standard  poured concrete if you want your home to standout.

I think if most of the street facing area of my home was garage I would make the most of it by doing something creative with the driveway and getting a great garage door.

I love some of the paver/grass combination driveways and the grass paver driveways.

With your property I can see a modern geometric design like this last photo paired with a modern garage door

or something more fun like the large stone and grass driveway with a less modern wood look garage door

I do remember some advice my mom gave me when I bought my first home and wanted to do a lot to the front yard, was focused on curb appeal . . .

My mom said, "You live on the inside, you play in the back yard, the front is done for your neighbors." Her point was not to go too crazy and spend too much on something that isn't as important as the space where you spend all of your time.

Remove the cheezy louvered attic vent.

What will the portico columns look like? You only need one and I suggest it be substantial, round and tapered. It will essentially be the only notable architectural feature (other than the garage door) and may determine whether the house is a Colonial Revival or a Minimal Traditional style so popular with builder-developers.

I hope that's not the final color of the front door.

Since you have a house attached to a garage, you'll want to make the garage doors as interesting as possible.

My advice is to find out what the HOA allows and then come back with your options for advice you’ll be able to execute. My HOA only allows two garage door styles. I really think landscaping is going to be your best bet. Don’t worry, most homes don’t look cute at this stage.

I echo Jennifer Hogan's comments about spending $ on the areas where YOU and YOUR family live. Carefully consider return on investment ROI when planning upgrades to the front of your home. Marie also has wise words "most homes don't look cute at this stage". Consider getting ideas from similar homes in your area that you like the look of. Good luck.

The projects in a house that have the best return on investment are the ones that can keep you in the house the longest. I agree that you should focus on the items that will have the biggest impact on your daily life, but don't ignore exterior items that are purely cosmetic.

You are going to have to look at the front of your home quite often and a front that you find somewhat appealing is actually valuable. I don't know many people who want to stay in a house that they find ugly.

Having said that, do keep it reasonable. A good garage door and some tasteful landscaping will make a big difference.

The majority here frown upon a garage in front of a home. I really hate it when the snark comes out with the old ”house attached to the garage” line is thrown out there, Its not low key passive agressive, we all get it. Im not sure anybody would choose to have their garage as the prime feature of their home. There are many reasons why people have this style home, first is $$ and second is lot size. Having said that, like mark said, buy the nicest garage door you can find. I think you need to wait until your home is finished for real useful advice. Congrats on your new home, may the build be uneventful.

"A good garage door and some tasteful landscaping will make a big difference." - bry911

Good advice worth repeating.