How would you improve this façade?

This is my first property I purchased in Wellington, NSW, and it's due for a renovation. These pics are after the mini reno that was done in 2010. Just imagine slightly more worn.

What would the PC collective do to improve the look of this property? I'm considering:

* rip out old metal front fence and replacing with a white paling picket fence
* repaint the front path
* new letterbox
* plant some tenant friendly plants
* do something with the shared driveway with neighbour (shared driveway)

 

Unless you're about to sell it I wouldn't do squat. Tenants wont pay you more, they wont look after what you do. Basically a waste of time. Put you're money into the interior, they will pay extra for that.

 

I agree with this, except I would spell the second "you're" as "your"

 

Cherie Barber it!! Paint everything!

You could put battens on the front fence then pickets, save cash that way. Paint the original gate for nostalgia

Throw a fewhardy plants in then head indoors

 

I reckon this your/you're correcting thing is going viral...

 

Plot twist: I'm looking to extract equity so here to impress the valuer.

 

Pro tip: the valuer won't care.

They look at block size, location, kitchen, bathroom, size of house. NEXT.

 

What is on the window on the left side? Is that security mesh or is it boarded up (or something else?)

I think a picket fence will go a long way, a paint freshen up particularly on the trims could be cost effective and make an impact. Softening the front path with some flowers or plants and a tidy up of the driveway (perhaps some gravel?) could be good too.

If you have some nice potted plants then put them on the front balcony for when the valuer visits and then take them back home as soon as s/he's gone

 

Paint the 'rock' render various shades of rock and a grout in between.

Replace the metal lattice with timber fretwork. Remove the timber balustrade at the end of the veranda.

Roll out some turf or grass seed.

Paint the path anything but green.

Plant some jasmine or other climber on the fence. Paint the fence posts to match the fence (or spray the whole fence).

Park an old valiant or torana on blocks in the front yard.

Put a caravan in the driveway and hook it up to the power.

Chain a box trailer to the tree out the front.

 

Based on past valuations (including this house), I disagree. But thanks for your input.

 

I would do the picket fence and paint the roof, walks and path in more modern colours. I tried to find a photo but couldn't find one. The big window looks terrible. Not sure what to do about it. A little awning over the top? I wouldn't spend too much but it isn't appealing as it is. It would turn some tenants off. Depends whether the valuer does a drive by as to whether it would change the valuation.

 

Roses are hardy and do well in this area. I'd do the picket fence and a row of those soft white roses. Classic look.

 

Ok looked at more photos. Paint the walls slightly darker. A warm grey? Paint the windows white so they don't look like an eye sore. And paint the downpipes the same colour as the walls. Verandah a slightly darker colour?

 

Larger fretwork. Picket fence. Paint path. Contrast colour the guttering, posts, and pipes.

 

Oh gosh. Ok get rid of the hessian mesh thingy. Why is that even there? Is there a purpose? It really detracts from what is quite a cute little house.

Agree with the others about the painting, if you can paint the roof within budget then try to do that too - in a neutral colour (grey would be good)! All the trims should be the same colour as each other and compliment the roof.

Your house isn't the same as this pic but I think you can achieve a similar look.

 

It's a meth lab.

 

It was an empty window before the 2010 renovation. Pre-renovation picture attached. The tradie who did that renovation thought it was a good way to fill a window.

The original roof colour of this property was a faded pink (would have been red decades ago), hence why that burgundy red was chosen.

I love the look of the fence and roof colour, and the timber work on the porch roof! As travelbug mentioned, an awning would probably finish the house off at the front and maybe a real window to fill in the hessian stop-gap.

 

I feel like I've seen this before? That front room is familiar. Like the house has a really swollen eye. Do you really need that bit? I'd be seriously considering getting rid of it. Am I being too forthright again?

 

Probably in this thread http://somersoft.com/forums/showthread.php?t=65358 (though the links are broken as I don't use Google Picasa/Photos any more).

It does look... odd. The tenant uses it for storage. (Confirmed there's no equipment to make meth in there).