I came across this photo on MLS today while browsing listings for a client. It could be such a cute house, with the right changes. But right now it looks oddly proportioned, and the white siding looks stark and boring against the dark green trim. It wouldn't cost that much money, however, to give this house a major facelift. I'd have a handyman lighten the dark green trim to a sage, tan, or a warm gray - the dramatic contrast of the dark green just isn't working with the white siding. I'd also paint the J-channels above and below all the windows in a darker tone than the house's trim color to add interest, and put flowerboxes on all the windows of the enclosed porch, planting them with low-maintenance evergreen plants that will look good throughout the year. The bottom two to three feet of siding around the porch should be removed and replaced with lattice (if there is plywood behind the siding, I'd paint the plywood black and then cover it with lattice that's pre-painted in the color of the trim - it will look like the porch is open below, even though it isn't.) I'd also put a more substantial light fixture by the front door and paint the door red or chestnut brown. These small changes would completely change visitors' (and online shoppers') first impression of this house - from drab and in need of work, to bright and charming.
