The house is done, except it as it is. Invest in a good landscape architect.

It's lovely. Landscape and enjoy!

I'd install a nice wood garage door. It is such a huge part of the front of the home and the black makes it look like a gaping hole. Maybe the texture of nice would could satisfy some of your brick craving? The layout of the garage door is fine if you like the windows. You could get a nice wood front door to match too.

And yes, landscape.

" and bord and batten "

Board and Baton. Yep, wood garage door and front door. Those do not go with the home.

When we have built or remodeled, I have never ripped out anything brand new. I put things I think are not perfect on the re-evaluate in 10 years list. If you have a good, local nursery, go there with a plot plan and some pictures….for a reasonable fee, someone there will be able to design some planting beds for you.
A landscape architect and a master plan are an excellent idea if you are planning on a lot of hard scape…pool, patio, pergolas, outdoor kitchens, etc.

I would paint the front door a bright color (blue?) and invest heavily in a landscape architect who can make all that yard space stunning.

Thanks for everyone for the feedback! I have to pick out landscaping soon and have no idea what I should do plant wise. If you have any suggestions please let me know! They did say any flowers needed to be plants that survive under shade

Who is doing the landscaping and told you to pick out indivdual plants? What is their design and where are the beds going? Are they installing shrubs or perennials? Where do you live, climate, growing seasons?

Your yard looks freaking sun drenched to me in this picture. What direction does it face? What time of day does it have this much sun and what other times of day does it have shade?

Will you be parking your vehicle in the garage or on the driveway? If in the driveway and if a large truck like your neighbors, I'd invest little in the way of improving the exterior of your house.

What zone are you in?

If you go to garden centers or nurseries or nurseries take pictures of the already landscaped homes in your development.

Now that I look closer at the house, I find the board and batten finish on the porch beam hilarious.

Keep the man at the front door.😍 If you can’t, I’ll find him a good home. 🙂 Lovely house, does it face north? I would do a curved, low wall bordering the porch and sidewalk, with a large, colorful welcome mat in front of the door and 2 chairs. Are you allowed a small tree?

If the development were to be compared to a restaurant, this house would be the waiter.

But if painting the house is not an option, try painting the entrance porch post white and moving the downspout back to the face of the house and making it and the other downspouts white. Add color with plantings and a pair of Austin-Healy 3000s.

I don’t know how to individually comment back, but Kendrah I agree! There is a lot of sunlight lol. The garden goes right in front of the porch and kind of wraps around. I did want a tree on the side but other than that they said I could kind of pick whatever, and I’m clueless! I like small bushes but also want some pink flowers, just don’t know what!

And mark I know 😂 my twin that lives in the black house right beside it did it to hers and I actually loved it so had them do it to mine lol. They had to go back and do it. It actually looks a lot better than the plain board they had on it originally

Shady I am cracking up 😂 that is my husband but he will get a kick out of that lol. I agree with the colors!

It’s well worth the money to invest in professional advice from a landscape architect. I would start there and get a plot plan drawn up. If you can’t afford to have the business do the planting, at least get some kind of basic planning for your major shrubs and trees which should go in first. Then you can work on the planting plan over time.

"they said I could kind of pick whatever"

Who is they?

The builder. They are allowing us to customize

Miriam, you don't need a landscape architect - way overkill. But it would help you tremendously to consult a landscape designer. For a very reasonable fee, many local nurseries will provide you with a landscape plan then give you a discount on plants if you purchase from them. You can implement the plan over time if needed. A few hundred dollars up front can save a lot of money and years of disappointment, particularly when you don't really know what you're doing gardening-wise. Ask on NextDoor or your neighborhood Facebook group for suggestions. Enjoy your new home -- it's lovely.

Thank you!

Plants, in their their nursery pots, are like babies in the hospital nursery. Tiny and cute…but, just like children, they grow quickly and the next thing you know you are tripping over giant smelly shoes in your front hall! The children eventually move out, the plants keep growing. Don’t tell your builder you want a maple….if what you want is a Japanese maple. You will get a Norway maple, cheap, invasive and enormous!

millworkman, LoL! It's not "Board and Baton". 1. : a thin stick that is used by a music conductor to lead a band or orchestra. 2. : a long thin stick with a ball at one end or both ends that is carried by someone who performs with or leads a marching band.

It's board and batten.

a type of siding where thin strips of wood molding—or “battens”—are placed over the seams of panel boards

My bad…yes, Landscape designer not architect. It is quite true you can get them for a reasonable price particularly for something like a new lot like yours. You’ve got a blank slate. I would seriously emphasize investing in your trees and shrubs first however. It’s so easy to neglect that and then five years goes by. And as Fiss said, don’t plant a Norway maple… there are many other much nicer maples. Longer lived, not invasive, etc. etc. Having said that I have planted several Norway maples because they’re free.

But then I have 2 acres of land. If you’re working with a lot you need to be selective.

IF you are paying the builder for whatever landscaping you pick with the builder, just wait and do it later. Likely the builder will upcharge you for the same stuff. I wouldn't even have the builder do a border around the house if it's extra money as they usually cut corners on that stuff too, often not making the bed large enough for any significant plantings.

Echoing what everyone else says, wait until you move in/close, then hire a landscape designer. They will help you choose appropriate plantings for the amount of sun you get and the space you have.

Thank you!! Here’s an example of all they will do. It is very small

A few boxwood by the look of it. I think you can do better than that. Boxwood are extremely inexpensive.

Are you paying for it or is it already "included"?

It is included!

Do you live in an area that requires an irrigation system and does the builder include that? Cause that’s a big deal! As far as the plantings go, can you just ask for an allowance?