Congratulations on your new home! I think first order of business will be major pruning to lower shrubs that are blocking windows - or even digging up & moving some of them if possible. Not sure what they are but some look like evergreen & blooming shrubs. And, can’t tell from pics which are actually close to windows & blocking.Looks like a nice woodsy setting so maybe the shrubs can be moved & replanted after a rejuvenation pruning. The balcony is - well - interesting, Looks like the end columns provide support for roof overhang. Can you look at just removing railing & changing end supports to some other style that’s beefier looking?

Your first order of business is a serious removal of all the too close to the house, overgrown landscaping.

Nothing great can happen to the exterior, until it is planned, and rectified. You can barely SEE the front elevation, and I'd not be surprised if the foundation has some moisture issues.

Yes to removing the over growth. All those shutters need to go they are not appropriate on those windows Where do thse windows go inside . IMO if that balcony is wide enough why not make on of those window s a door to the bacony and have yoiur morning coffee there if there is a view even better. You have some nice brick so get rid of the rest of the red and maybe this color for the siding . I do not even see the entry . Please remove the overgrowth the post new pics here of the house post in a comment DO NOT start another post .

Will you be keeping the greige siding color or repainting the trim and siding both?

It's April and shrubs are about to bloom through May. I suggest pruning and transplanting after you see what blooms that you like. Cut some flowering branches to bring inside.

The overgrown juniper could be removed immediately.

If you must repaint the railing soon, try using the same greige as the siding. The railing will be far less visible.

This is all great! Thank you so much for the advice and ideas. First order of business will be making sure grading and drainage are okay! We will absolutely be power washing, and then cleaning up the landscaping before we even touch the facade. I will circle back with updates once we have them, though it may be a few months as we have a lot of work to do!

It’s a very nice house. Keep us updated. Would love to see it once everything is pruned back so we can see the house better.

Nice house 🙂

Can a fake balcony support any weight, I wonder?

And that does seem to be a strange and mysterious mix of details up there - the siding, shutters and railings don't seem to go together at all.

FYI no pressure washing brick only a very low pressure clean up there. I will wait for the new look .

Thanks for that tip, Patricia!

I would clean up entrance from bushes to make it more open and inviting.

View from the Front · More Info

Here is an update after a year of work!

• We painted the door and shutters a nearly black color, and did the trim in white.
• new door hardware
• repainted the railings black
• Cleaned and stained the retaining wall.
• pruned a TON and removed some of the overgrown shrubs and trees
• added a few new shrubs
• edged out a new path next to walkway
• added new path lights
• new doorbell
• new mailbox
• seeded new grass (still growing)

We need to add more shrubs and flowers, and would love ideas! We plan to have the landscaping extend to the street (where there is currently dirt)

Looks sharp! Removing the overgrown shrubs revealed the house to view.

Big improvement from where you started! Add more landscaping to the front and you will be finished!!

What a huge difference just to be able to see the entry door from street! Great job of paint color selection - looks like a different house. Well done.

Thanks, everyone! We have more to do but are proud of our DIY progress! 😅

Looks great! Good job!