Hi! To start I would add some plants or even a couple of large potted plants near the front door. I always have a wreath on the front of mine and just a nice wreath can add a lot! Later on maybe some new trim paint and shutters. Congrats to them on the purchase of their first home and wishing them luck and patience!

Huh......I never thought about horizontal siding but, your right! They are planning on selling this house in hopes of buying a larger home since they now have two babies.

You are right on the greenery. What about a rail or porch?

Thank you for the ideas!

-- Cute ranch home - all it needs is a little TLC on the outside.

I am not a landscape designer but there are some crossover things from interior design that I can say a thing or two about. That's my disclaimer! Some of these will not work for you - that's no problem. One or two might tho!

Paint the house a lighter color. It will help it appear fresh and a little bigger. Paint the down spouts the same color as the siding - they never have anything interesting to add to the appearance of the outside and should be camouflaged as much as possible. The vertical siding has a contemporary feel that is appealing.
Power wash the roof. It is an amazing detail!

Add contrasting shutters to the large window in another soft color. You do not want to break up that wall but you need some interest there at the same time. Shutters in a light -medium color would do that. Add a window box filled with colorful annuals. Some that grow tall, medium high and some that blouse over the edge, Feed them regularly so they become amazingly beautiful.

Plant mature, small shrubs along the whole foundation - with something taller by the small window and another taller one at the end [is that a garage at the end?]. Makes the house look longer if shrubs go all the way along that line. Add mulch or plastic sheeting covered with rocks to keep dirt off of the siding.

No grass? Take out some of the asphalt! Make the remaining line a curve to soften the angular lines of the house. Plant a tree in there. Plant seeds or sod and feed so it is like a fairway in great condition.

Paint the front door and posts in front to match the shutters. Add a screen door and paint that too - the color of the house maybe? Install new house numbers that are simple and elegant. mailbox?

With the posts painted, build planters around the posts out of brick of some kind, and plant it up to coordinate with the window box. Plant a blossoming climbing vine on the left side of the entrance edge of the house and let it climb up and over the roof.

You didn't mention a budget, intrcrts suggestion of vinyl siding is a good one. If that's not possible, I'd paint it a more cheerful color. I can't tell what color the roof is, the new color should harmonize with it. Maybe a light yellow with with white trim. Give the front door a pop of color.
Plants for sure. Maybe a trellis with a fast growing vine between the large window and really small one to minimize the gap. Shutters might be too busy, they'd emphasis the differing window sizes.
The steps look a little dicey. Since the door isn't that high, how about a low deck under the overhang. Add a chair and table.
Hope they are able to move on to their next home with their little ones soon.

Sandy,

You have so many good ideas. My DIL and I are going through them with her house in mind and we love almost every single idea.
I asked my son what the budget might be for remodel to sell and his estimate was about fifteen to twenty thousand. The house is in a highly desirable area with about five acres of oak trees and out buildings.

Thank you Michelle for your thoughts. The ideas are being well received.

Whoa! $15,000 - $20,000? Contact your local nursery and get some REAL direction!

So far we don't need it. Your ideas are just what we were looking for!

Just use a lot of greenery inwhite or aluminum pots ,modern square designd, wont cost much

Along with all of the other great ideas already suggested, I think the front steps look like they could use a bit of work. Actual wood steps even, what is there now gives he appearance of piled rocks. Definitely rip out some asphalt and add some greenery.

And don't forget to post some after pics! :)

It's actually not asphalt, it is just a gravel rock driveway up to the house. Ripping it out it easy. However, CA is in major drought. Adding grass can't happen. Indigenous plants could be added, but grass is out for now. They would like to have the house on the market by April.

The steps are kind of funky, my DIL, doesn't like them either. The picture I took is not the best because I was standing on a raised bed next to their driveway.

The money they are spending isn't just for curb appeal. They are remodeling ( low budget ) two baths, with new vanities and sinks. They are also replacing a tub and shower. So you see, the budget is dwindling.

I think adding some plants is fine, that is what I meant by greenery anyway. Day lilies, liriope, sedums would all work, though I would like to see some bushes like some hydrangeas or roses. So, are those oaks next to the house too? Pull them out further away from the house as an edging and plant behind them.

Give the home a lighter fresh coat of paint, clean beautiful roof, add tall pencil hollies to corners of home with smaller evergreens in between (evergreens in yellow and burgundy for contrast). A window box with colorful annuals and long draping vines would also add interest.

Section off parking area with a few sections of split rail fence. Add a large potted tree with table, umbrella and chairs out front sectioned off with matching split rail or use sections of companion fences all painted the same color. Give the yard a purpose but keep it simple and practical, don't add too any "decorations" that it looks junky.

Congrats and good luck!

Hard to see, but looks like a beautiful roof. Definitely needs a 'pick up'....easy to do at a low cost.....paint, wood and plants are the cheapest.
-paint (cedar, olive?)...never disregard white as it's fresh, clean and helps white windows blend in.
-add much wider window trims (keep white if house is white or darker shade if cedar or olive).
-affix lattice panels (same colours as window trim) to each side of 'larger' R/S window and down L/S of house.
-plant evergreen shrubs (pyramid or globe cedars?) to R/S of house (not under porch area)...trim with wood chips.
-put 2 large items on each side of door....plant pots? ceramic? or skinnier lattice (from ground up to lights and paint same colour as door)?
-Paint front door and roof trim same colour, to pop and complement roof.
-now make front entrance impressive....build large, wide rectangle pillars or boxes to make entrance posts stronger (wood or rock and can be topped with lattice to roof)...maybe enclose from each post to outside edge of roof (2ft? each side) from ground to roof...planter boxes?
-if available, add 3 rows of rocks to line the L/S of your L/S walkway beside the house...make it seem wider and more impressive to balance /w house.
-Also, it's an acreage so sell the way of life....no work (so no mess or tools) and peace, so benches in a few spots outside plus a firepit setting somewhere.
Hope this gives you some ideas....

Here's a quick look at one possibility

Norton, I actually really like the rock garden idea. With our drought, this would be doable for them.

How about adding a bench, porch swing, or Adirondack chairs for the front porch to have charm? These items are affordable and can really change the look of a place.

http://deciture.com/shop/outdoor/7/classic-porch-swing/

http://deciture.com/shop/outdoor/3/coral-coast-white-adirondack-chair/

http://deciture.com/shop/outdoor/3/coral-coast-matera-5-ft-painted-bench-white/

Definitely agree with most of the comments. Greenery goes a long way with curb appeal. Especially agree with Handymam's specific comment about hydrangeas. This plant blooms beautifully, but make sure your house does not face East as they wilt in too much sun exposure.

-- It might help to make a priority list with approx. costs so you can figure out the best way to achieve a nice result. A DIY list might look like this - -

1. Paint the house, front door, trim, posts.

2. Power wash the roof.

3. Build simple shutters. The shutters shown below from exteriorsolutions.com and cost $87.75/pair and come unfinished. This style would be easy to build for a lot less.

4. Build or purchase a window box. I have heard about the draught in CA and it is terrible! You still need a window box under the window though. Since this property is on 5 acres, it would be appropriate to fill the window box with things found on the property and out in the woods. ie. clumps of dried grasses, small branches, etc. The window box below is filled with artificial greens. Do not use plastic greens - only silk because you have a more realistic drape/texture and color with silk ones. No watering needed.

5. Address the front steps by filling in any cracks and then tiling right over the existing steps in something weather resistant. This is a more finished, more expensive looking solution than wood steps.

6. Do something with the foundation line - front and side. If it is too risky to plant shrubs because of the draught, put in a fresh layer of mulch or rocks. At least it will appear that something has been done to spruce up that area - prospective buyers will understand the situation. Clean up the area along the side to the back of the house with the same treatment.

7. The front posts . . . Paint to match the trim after adding to them either or both: stone/ tile/ wood planters built around the base -enlarge them by adding boards on each side.

I wish I had estimates on what these improvements would cost, but I do not. A little research on your part would give you a better idea of what can get done. Living in different parts of the country would make a difference too as to the costs of things.

I would suggest you add interest to the driveway and the entry walk. There is plenty of paving styles that you could use to either border or add a "path/design" to the drive. Right now the entry looks small and I would really try to enlarge it by adding a more interesting paving style.

The property is very rural so the gravel drive to their house is 200ft long or more. So changing it is not going to happen, but definitely adding some green out front will be done. Window box idea was well received, so was the idea of shutters. They are choosing paint colors as we speak and the front posts will be changed. Possibly a front rail and a deck and trellis at the end of the house. The grounds around the house are very pretty and they really have done a lot to make it very park like. I will try to post pictures as they go along.

All of the ideas are wonderful. Greenery will be a problem, but they are on well water so better off then some. Deer is also an issue with certain plants.