I have a curb appeal dilemma and I'm hoping for some input!

Rental Property Investor · Simsbury, CT · Member since 2015 · 23 posts · 2 votes

Hey guys, I'm lookin for some suggestions on how to improve curb appeal on a property that looks a little bland, but has great potential!! Have any of you dealt with a property similar to this; or does anyone have any ideas/ suggestions on curb appeal improvements?

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Greg Dyer

Property Manager · Jacksonville, FL · Member since 2014 · 8 posts · 9 votes

I agree with the window comments above, but your strategy is going to differ based on your goal. Is this going to be for rent or retail? If rental, you probably want to spend less and are more in the mode of cleaning everything up. The tree on the left needs to be trimmed back and the tree on the right looks like it would block the house in season. You might consider removing it and putting a nice bed in its place. If retail, then replacing the skylights with dormers would make sense. It would be great to change the slit windows in the middle section upstairs, but I am guessing that may be a bathroom. If so, I have seen some creative solutions where a false window has been created with casing and paint creating the illusion of a real window. The house is very dark (the cloudy day doesn't help), so if you are considering painting, I wouldn't consider it a bad idea to paint it a lighter color. If you went down that path, you could make the front door, columns, and garage door standout. Again, a lot of this depends on your strategy. You may also want to look around the neighborhood and see what the other houses look like. Are they all the same style, color, etc. This information may help guide you.

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Colleen F.Pro Member
Investor · Narragansett, RI · Member since 2013 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes
9y
What is in that dormer and why such skimpy windows? I think that is what you have to solve. It looks like an out of place addition. Not sure what to do with it to increase the appeal. Change the style of the porch roof below the dormer?
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Brent Coombs
Investor · Cleveland, OH · Member since 2015 · 6k+ posts · 2k+ votes
9y
The two skylights should be proper dormer windows (90 degree gable peak), the same width as those below. Even the garage could use a dormer! Hey, is there usable space above that garage?
And what's with the garage door? Do you have to duck if you're over 5'10"? Cheers...
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Kyle Litz
Ballston Spa, NY · Member since 2016 · 7 posts · 26 votes
9y
A bright paint over that brown will do wonders. A simple light bleaching of the asphalt shingles will take the stain out of the roof (before the painting obviously).
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OP
Rental Property Investor · Simsbury, CT · Member since 2015 · 23 posts · 2 votes
9y
All the windows can be easily upgraded and I love the ideas of dormers on each side! Bleaching of the shingles is a great idea as the roof is in good condition. I think a lighter coat of paint is also a good idea but I'm just not to sure how light to go. the skimpy windows are totally out of place and need to be improved. I may also be able to create some useable space above that garage as well, with a nice dormer. Thanks for the great input!
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Greg Dyer
Property Manager · Jacksonville, FL · Member since 2014 · 8 posts · 9 votes
9y
I agree with the window comments above, but your strategy is going to differ based on your goal. Is this going to be for rent or retail? If rental, you probably want to spend less and are more in the mode of cleaning everything up. The tree on the left needs to be trimmed back and the tree on the right looks like it would block the house in season. You might consider removing it and putting a nice bed in its place. If retail, then replacing the skylights with dormers would make sense. It would be great to change the slit windows in the middle section upstairs, but I am guessing that may be a bathroom. If so, I have seen some creative solutions where a false window has been created with casing and paint creating the illusion of a real window. The house is very dark (the cloudy day doesn't help), so if you are considering painting, I wouldn't consider it a bad idea to paint it a lighter color. If you went down that path, you could make the front door, columns, and garage door standout. Again, a lot of this depends on your strategy. You may also want to look around the neighborhood and see what the other houses look like. Are they all the same style, color, etc. This information may help guide you.
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OP
Rental Property Investor · Simsbury, CT · Member since 2015 · 23 posts · 2 votes
9y
This house is a flip I will be closing on it in a few weeks I'm hoping to get top of the market for this neighborhood. The issue is the other houses in the neighborhood are brighter newer cleaner and different styles. I'm looking to make it stand out. I was thinking I would do a stone veneer in the front around the doors and up the columns to break it up with a nice heavy door that stands out. Obviously a new garage door I haven't decided the color or the type of door yet.
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Jeff B.
Buy & Hold Owner · Redlands, CA · Member since 2015 · 5k+ posts · 2k+ votes
9y
Basic design suggests a Base color and a contrasting Trim color. Your base is brown and changing just the trim to white { windows, doors, roof line, garage door} would make a world of difference. Save the posts for the entry to last to evaluate if you need more or like it as-is
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OP
Rental Property Investor · Simsbury, CT · Member since 2015 · 23 posts · 2 votes
9y
Alot of great ideas, I would have never thought I could throw white trim and a white garage door on. But it would for sure add some much needed contrast.
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Stacia Scaduto
Glenside, PA · Member since 2017 · 1 post · 2 votes
9y
I agree with others on painting, if you can, without causing future issues with water penetration etc. Also taking out all the old style landscaping (It looks like those are yews under the larger window on the left and update it with nicer bushes. I like your idea of the stone veneer, maybe put around garage too. Anywhere you can put larger windows would help as it looks to be a largely wooded area.
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Joe SplitrockPro Member
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Rental Property Investor · Sioux Falls, SD · Member since 2015 · 9k+ posts · 18k+ votes
9y
Originally posted by @Account Closed:

Alot of great ideas, I would have never thought I could throw white trim and a white garage door on. But it would for sure add some much needed contrast.
I would never put a white garage door and trim on this house. I think that would look horrible. Maybe a different shade of tan or brown, but not white. I think a new garage door and paint would fix your issue. Drive around and look for other houses with the same color roof that have a nice color pallet. Just copy what someone else did.
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Jim Adrian
Architect · Papillion, NE · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 840 votes
9y
@Account Closed
I see the architectural flare of the late 70's here... Your issue is the siding is running at a 45 degree angle in places. I would re-side the whole house to get a uniform look. Then you can pick any color you really want. If you keep the existing siding then go with a light tan field color and keep the trim dark.
I like the idea of adding stone to the front or even brick due to the fireplace. I would add a stone at the columns for 3ft high. Stone the entire wall at the entry. Stone wainscot on each side of the entry.
The yew/juniper bush needs to go and add new landscaping with color. Removing this will show off the stone and bring balance back into house.
Clean the roof staining. I am not sold on the dormer windows as described above. If you do dormers then the roof slopes all need to match and slope to the front like the center porch area otherwise they clash the design.
Replace the roof? if you do I could see a nice metal shingle that looks like a wood shingle.
If you keep a lot of the dark brown then I could see going with a lime green or bright orange front door.
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JD MartinBusiness Member
Moderator
Rock Star Extraordinaire · Northeast, TN · Member since 2015 · 10k+ posts · 17k+ votes
9y
Thoughts:
1. The area above the front door is unbalanced. It looks like 2 tiny portholes as best as I can tell. Increase the window size if possible.
2. The front door needs a brighter color because of the dark shade that's thrown on to it from the overhang. Bright meaning something that goes with the earth tones of the house, not neon or pastel.
3. Dormers would look great. If you can't afford them, bigger skylights would look better OR forego the skylights altogether. It depends how dark the interior of the house is.
4. The garage door is fine but needs something to break up the span - a top row of windows would do wonders. I wouldn't change the color, white will look horrible on this house.
5. The tree to the left of the frame needs to be pulled back. Either cut it down or trim it away from the house. The tree between the house and garage is not ideal but it's hard to get a feel for it in the winter. The hedges to the left need to be lowered, they are too tall relative to the height of the wall, especially since you have this massive roof that is already dwarfing the wall.
Whenever I have houses like this - ie freestyle/no style - I try to run with whatever it's closest to being. You have a house that's kind of 60's modern/contemporary, so don't add Craftsman or Colonial features to it. Stay in the earth tones for paint for the door and/or trim (I would consider painting the trim around the windows, the overhang posts, and trim around the garage door a complementary but contrasting color). Your biggest problems are the lack of reasonable proportions to the house and the monotone palette.
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Christian Wathne
Investor · San Jose, CA, Bellevue, WA · Member since 2016 · 327 posts · 257 votes
9y
Granted, the below is a horrible mockup, but in addition to repainting (I like behr grassy savanah, with white trim) I would raise the roof above the front door up another 8 or so ft so it connects to the top roof, add a large window to that upper addition looking structure, and make the colums go from way up top to the ground. I think it would open up the house and look very grand.
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OP
Rental Property Investor · Simsbury, CT · Member since 2015 · 23 posts · 2 votes
9y
I really like that idea. Great input and I love those colors. Thanks for the great input. That lighter color might compliment the dark surroundings of the house. It is heavily wooded.
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OP
Rental Property Investor · Simsbury, CT · Member since 2015 · 23 posts · 2 votes
9y
Thanks everyone's for all the great input I'm going to put it all to good use! Keep it coming I need all the help I can get on this one. I will keep this post updated once I figure out exactly what I'm going to do and will take pictures to show the change.
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Jill F.
Investor · Akron, OH · Member since 2016 · 2k+ posts · 4k+ votes
9y
How old is the roof? If you need to replace the roof, changing the roof to a more grey color with dimensional shingles would make a huge difference all by itself.
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Charlie John
Investor · Twin Cities, MN · Member since 2015 · 130 posts · 111 votes
9y
@Account Closed LOL when I saw the exterior photo. Dude just paint it and put a new roof on. Do architectural shingles. You could even do one of these rooflines with a metal roof to accent it.
Don't try to mess with the structure. Turn the project
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Jonathan Thrasher
Grand Rapids, MI · Member since 2015 · 113 posts · 29 votes
9y
It really depends on your budget. I would hire a designer to give you some input on the exterior. Sometimes these older Mid Mod homes are sought after. What do other homes in the neighborhood look like? If they are all different, this one already stands out so you can use that to your advantage.
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