What does the lower level that is hidden by bushes look like? Is it brick, stone or more siding?

Good question. Also are you willing to paint the siding too. I would start by removing the shutters , they do not belong on those windows . Comwe back with mor einfo and please just keep staying on thos post all the things we ask and you provide answers to stay on this one post .

The overly pruned meatballs should be replaced. And we really need better pictures. Where is the path to the front door?

It really depends on your budget and if you want to do construction or just dress up the existing house.

Personally, I'm a fan of hedges trimmed into interesting shapes, just not meatballs. As part of an overall landscaping design, you can consider keeping the existing shrubbery, just form it into the design.

Boxwood Hedge · More Info

Traditional Landscape · More Info

Meatballs can work, they just need to grow closer together and be properly pruned and create an interesting design.

College Crescent · More Info

Yours are close to being properly pruned, but the tops need to be smaller than the bottoms so the sun can get to the entire shrub.

Bev those rendering are beyond ULTRA modern. Not at all a typical neighborhood home. It's fine to bring a home into this decade but Jetson's is over board.

@arcy_gw Not sure of the geography you are referencing but in my formerly very traditional subdivision (originated in the early 70's in the South, US) many, many of the new multimillion dollar houses replacing the very traditional teardowns including split levels like mine, are very much like the ones @BeverlyFLADeziner featured. Even in my home state of Alabama where my sister still lives, the houses built in the 60's and 70's in Birmingham are being renovated as Beverly shows and they sell fast and at premium prices. I think it all depends on your market.

Better pictures needed, including the garage.

My neighbourhood is full of renovated 30-40 year old bungalows and side splits and the transformations are exciting, adding value to the neighbourhood and for any that aren’t, owners are befitting re their property potential/value. Many resemble those in link below/like Bev’s examples.

https://www.brickandbatten.com/split-level-house/?epik=dj0yJnU9T2s3OS1QYkdsa1NabE8wS1V2aFhBSndhNWdQS1J3bzImcD0wJm49REJrOXpPX014LUtCT0hRbmNIanpIdyZ0PUFBQUFBR1FzS20w

It comes down to your budget and what you had in mind, but even if it‘s just landscaping, or painting, on line pictures will help (also drive around your neighbourhood).

Removing the shutters will make the house even more blah. Landscaping will help, but new siding will help even more.

Here are a few suggestions:

I would go not busy

More options:

Minor changes: pruned stub tree branches, painted shutters, added a post where the roof changes height (just because it looks better than the flat wall there). Maybe also change to more contemporary light fixtures? (I didn't.)

More major changes: added new walkway, pruned and added shrubs (boxwoods?) to create more relaxed shapes and reveal lower-level windows, set boulders and planted shade-tolerant woodland natives (cinnamon ferns, James sedges, wild geranium, dwarf crested iris) around maple(?) tree. (Don't know where you are, so plants might need to change.)