How do I increase my curb appeal?

I would power wash the brick , the driveway and the deck. add some flowers in pots on the deck and maybe the bench. You could maybe add shutters around the windows. Good luck with it.

The stumps need t be removed and that sidewalk doesn't appear to be particularly functional...what is the point of that strip of grass between the sidewalk and driveway? I think I might remove (or have removed) that sidewalk, if I were in your shoes.

Is that a flower bed on the right side of the driveway or a brush pile? It's a little hard to tell from the picture.

I think you're missing trees and color. It's a little hard to tell, but I think Mudgee is in planting zones 2 or 3. https://www.anbg.gov.au/gardens/research/hort.research/zones.html

Instead of following the foundation so closely in straight lines, consider making much larger flower beds with sweeping curves. Definitely use mulch in the beds. Some towns have community compost piles that are free for residents (or very low cost) to take advantage of.

Walk your neighborhood and take photos of attractive landscapes. Talk to your new neighbors. Join the local garden club. People will frequently share plants that they've divided or propagated.

Take a look at Pinterest for inspiration. Here's a great number of pins for budget-friendly curb appeal ideas: https://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=curb%20appeal%20on%20a%20budget&rs=guide&term_meta[]=curb%7Ctyped&term_meta[]=appeal%7Ctyped&term_meta[]=fixer%20upper%7Cguide%7Cword%7C3&term_meta[]=exterior%20makeover%7Cguide%7Cword%7C2&add_refine=on%20a%20budget%7Cguide%7Cword%7C0

You don't really have room on the facade to place shutters, do you? I'd think about window boxes with something cheerful, like impatiens, if it were me.

It's a little bit unclear from the street-view photo of the house precisely where the entrance to the house is. It would be nice if that stood out a little more...paint, perhaps?

The front door just fades into the paint. How bout a new color to punch up that entry like Black. it would look awesome with that rail color...https://www.google.com/search?biw=1234&bih=676&tbm=isch&sa=1&q=pinterest+black+front+doors&oq=pinterest+black+front+doors&gs_l=psy-ab.3...0.0.0.22391.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0..0.0....0...1..64.psy-ab..0.0.0.44XFgHXBGss

Although the wrought iron was beautifully painted, you need more contrast from the light brick - your trim needs to be darker, not lighter. I would repaint the wrought iron a darker color like an auburn and put up shutters the same color. I would repaint the stones the darker color, as well and then plant in bright, hot colors like gold and red. The rest looks very nice. Congratulations on your new home!

Those stumps need to go and maybe replaced with a row of pretty flowers. Reseed and tidy up the lawn. Remove those rocks and layer smaller flowers in front of the larger plantings. Power wash the driveway and the sidewalk. Paint some of your front porch accessories to harmonize. Paint the house garage trim with a nice crisp contrast....maybe crisp white. All of these can be done very cheaply with some sweat involved ;)

I recently painted my porch chairs a sunny yellow and am amazed at how they stand out. My house is grey and porch floor is brick red so the yellow really jumps out. You could go to yard sales for furniture and then paint it. Do the same with flower pots for some unifying color. Curving instead of straight lines for beds would create more interest. Have fun.

Sorry this photo is older but all the stumps were ground and we took those straggly old trees out to extend the drive as it was too narrow, so we will concrete that strip. We have limed and tidied the lawn, but it is a little frost affected at the moment. The rocks are all sealed professionally concreted in, do you think I could still keep them. I like the plantings idea. We power washed the driveway, front steps and path. We were going to paint the house a lighter colour, but not sure if we will do that as on here many people have said not to. Do you think we should leave it and paint the front porch steps with paving paint? Thank you for your help

I like the idea of curving the garden beds and have 2 Benches so maybe I could paint them in the same as the door colour? Thank you

I have walked by Embassy row in NY many times over the years and I have always admired the elegant black doors..

I wouldn't paint the house. I would just paint the door with black and add a few painted black accessories (maybe a pot planted with colorful flowers/foliage. A nice rug in front of the door. That light fixture is homely so I would replace with something to match the door hardware or black. Take out the rocks and deepen the beds in a more sculpted look with high plantings in the back and lower flowers in the front. Power wash all the concrete. I would paint the trim a tan that is in the brick color. The reddish orange trim is unattractive and dated. Tell your hubby that painting the front door is the easiest and cheapest way to update any home. I am not sure what he found dating about the pinterest looks???

And remove the awful stumps.

When I got my house there was bushes growing under my large front window. One of the first things I did was remove those plain drab bushes and proceeded to make a flower garden from the left front corner of the house to the sidewalk that leads to my front door. I brought it out 4 feet and curved the front corners. On the right side of the sidewalk I made a slightly lopsided triangle flower bed since there was another sidewalk that goes around the right side of the house. I love flowers and all of the beautiful array of colors. I have mostly perennials but do use some annuals to fill in. Tried to add pics but not sure why I cant upload them. I want to put a roof over my back patio but haven;t decided what type yet. Very good luck in your projects

can you add a updated photo to what you done so far?

You have a tradition style ranch from an Italian contractor and another owner put a Spanish style roof on it. You have to many styles going at the same time. I would place a black roof on paint the brick, remove every thing in that front bed and in large it. Place two spiral trees one one each side of the windows to the far left and one one the other window to the right of that window. Place ball shrubs in between along with impatience plants And make the beds have a curved edging and extend it all the way to the end of the driveway, taking out that side all ing leading to know where. Add window boxes on all the windows. Paint the porch add a bench with pillows, and paint the stairs an accent color to keep the eyes moving and here are some picture ideas. Once the carport door get installed paint that too. Where I live all your garden centers and store have clearance on bushes and mulch being the season is ending.