Oh man, this place could use a little revamping on the outside! No worries though. I'd tell your sister and her husband not to be discouraged by it... If they're willing to buy this house with a budget set aside for adding a little curb appeal to it, I think it'd be worth while! (I'm kind of a DIY-type of person, however, and love challenges like this, so it all depends on how much they really want to take on)
I definitely wouldn't underestimate what a good color scheme and paint job could do for this place, not to mention some much needed landscaping! Even a little could go a long way.
Another thing to consider: How do the other houses in the neighborhood compare with this one? Are they in the same kind of shape? Do any of them have good curb appeal?

I agree with Ally, paint would do wonders. Depending on budget this could look like a different house. For example either stucco or siding could be put over the block. Looks like new windows might help or just paint trim. Window box under the double window on the first floor. Paint the railings on the steps or replace with new and Landscaping would also help.

Cute little Craftsman cottage. As suggested above paint and new windows…in black. As the budget allows, repair/replace with Craftsman style trim.

I'm adding these photos just to throw ideas back and forth (by the way, @iplay10s I love the photos you included!)
I hope these help..? I'd say stick to colors that are light, refreshing and welcoming, with a little something for contrast. This lends a much more updated and modern feeling without taking away from the character of the house.

Any number of craftsman details will look right at home on this house - it has the lines, BUT you must cover the block walls with something. The uneven-ness doesn't help that. Strapping it for shingles or clapboards is difficult. Only thing I can think of: Hire swimming pool guys to shoot it with gunnite and trowel it smooth for a stucco like finish. I have done this to solidify shaky block foundation walls - It works. In this case we tied some rebar to strengthen the block - in your case some wire mesh attached with tapcon crews would do. Sorry do not have finish photos but it can be troweled as smooth as a swimming pool.

first go find a better house

There are things that could be done. The big questions are what would their budget be and how much can they put into it without going beyond what they'll be able to get out of the house.

I think a lot of curb appeal could be added with landscaping. The main things are foundation, roof, electric, plumbing, windows, functioning fireplace.

I'm thinking the front stairs to the porch would need to be replaced.If so that may affect the walls around it, which could be redone. The space below it might do with so color, and then slow growing short shrubs. I'm wondering if the second floor roof could be pitched. In an area that gets a lot of snow or rain it would be practical as well as create a nice focal point. Also, Would there be a cosmetic way to make the fireplace more enhancing? I look at the highest parts of the home first.

I'm not an Architect. I wonder if anyone on here who is could answer these questions. Can't hurt to ask.

I would like to see photos of the finished Duxborough Design project. I don't know anything about this process. It seems cool and I'd like to learn more about it.

Paint the porch walls to match the dormer so that they're lighter and look lke they belong together; paint the bottom cinder block a deep color to 'ground' the house, but I'd leave the textured block alone or whitewash it.

Some tall plantings to cover the 'seam' between base cinder block and the textured stuff, lower shrubs, then flowers in bed.

If this happens to be in SF Bay Area, see if they can get on 'Curb Appeal" (TV show) or one of those 'Yard Crasher" shows and have it done FOR THEM.

quixie - the short answer is: all things are possbile given enough money; but then there's the reality of the situation: are there local deeds/codes that put a restriction on height? what dollars are available? how does the rest of the neighborhood look? among other things

cutie - how long are your sister and husband going to live here? if this is a long term home then they may actually be well positioned for a great investment. often homes with no curb appeal end up selling below or at the low end of average in the neighborhood. so if they are willing to live with the red-headed step child for a while, and go into this with a plan to update, they can reap the benefits.

as stated in other posts - something as basic as a good paint job with multiple colors will really jazz up this house. Joseph had great ideas for basic upgrades with windows, door, trim and siding. if they are positioned where they can plan to put dollars into the house over the time they live there, including landscaping, then in the end they will end up with a great house. My partner bought the house we live in ten years ago. Four years ago we took in the porch and completely overhauled the landscaping at the front. We still have people stopping to tell us how much they love the way it looks. But it was six years of coming home to YAWN!

This house has awesome "bones" - with a carefully executed, step-by-step plan, this house could be really charming. They shouldn't be afraid of the possibilities, they should be excited.

I would start with landscaping and a paint job for the trim. I would look at trying to match the mortar color for the window trim. A dark cranberry red might look nice for accent color and the cement block foundation.Don't paint the block as that would likely become a maintenance issue long term.

For windows, a 3 over 1 might give a nice Craftsman look but I would approach it by finding a window company I liked and then see what they offered. Changing the window configuration in the dormer would help as well...a three window set in the center was quite common. The recommendation for cedar shingles would look great, but I don't know if the budget would stretch that far and whether the local real estate market would support that level of investment.

I never took finish photos because in this case it was a cellar wall. But the process is essentially the same as a gunnite swimming pool. In the case of an exterior wall it could be trowelled to a stucco like finish and color either added to the mix or could then be painted. This house has classic lines but unfortunate use of siding material. Usually those textured blocks were used for foundations.

Thanks Duxborough Designs!

It shoul be the same as neighbors. Don't try to be special. You would be treated as rich and thief will come finally.

Here's a 1913 house with same block siding, painted, one over one windows, shutters, creeping fig over foundation and pillar, porch painted. http://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2118-Saint-Johns-Ave-Jacksonville-FL-32204/44488414_zpid/

I love this house. Do not paint the foundation blocks, just add landscaping. The dormer needs some work and if the inside is nice, I think it is a go. And I think they should try to make it SPECIAL!!!!!

They put the bricks up for a reason - asbestos comes to mind. It may be holding up the house also. But I would tear off the facade brick and add bead board and a railing.

This is not a landscaping and paint problem.
This stuff isn't "facade brick", it is concrete block.

I like the gunite idea, very creative! It's so crazy it might work.\
However, this is going to come down to the price of the house vs. the potential upside value.

Yes, this could be made into a cute Craftsman cottage. But will the neighborhood support it?

Pressure washing and paint.

2013 posting