Need a photo to comment.

Not sure until you post a pic...but could a pergola type over the entrance way be an idea? This could add some contrast with stained wood if your house is one color. Also a landscape brick for an entrance step or possibly cover your existing step with flat stone.
Can't wait to see the pic to get some ideas for you : )

Ok i finally have a pic for you guys. Sorry it's a little hard to see due to the enormous tree in my front yard. Hopefully someone will be able to give me some ideas on how to get my poor house out of the 70's!!!

Here is a link that might be useful: House

Speaking for myself, it would take more than an updated front entry to pull that house out of the 70s (full disclosure: my house is that old, but not a split). The narrow windows above the garage and on the other side of the front door need a little trompe l'oiel or something.

Anyway, I might consider a grander entry with a high small roof that peaks in a direction perpendicular to the existing roof. Brighter colors to attract the eye, maybe on the door and/or in plantings along the steps. Probably wouldn't hurt to trim that big tree, either. :-)

linus
I'll take a stab (prior owner of 73 split level ranch)

relatively inexpensive route
- Trim the tree in front yard - provide a better shape (umbrella perhaps) to offer better visual to front of house- that will allow more natural light into your home as well!

- The garage door is the main attraction and the front door is hard to find (as currently pic'd)
- I would opt either for a new lighter colored front door or paint the existing a lighter color - i can't tell what is there but that is part of the problem - it's blending rather than making a statement. If there is any trim there I would paint that as well

I'd find a different location for trash
- Foundation plantings
- Railing for the front steps

Not sure you can do this - but, if you do some of the above steps and want to go further I would see if you could paint the garage doors so they fade/blend rather than stand out.

shutters, staining the concrete are also an option

the boxy chimney is not something that I would draw attn to - not sure is that just the concrete sleeve painted? either painting a blending color or perhaps having some brick installed on facade

good luck

Thanks jejvtr and steve,
Interesting i have never thought to trim that tree! LOL i just trim when it starts to hang down too low. So i will definitly do that this weekend. Although how do you trim a tree like that? What should it look like?
I agree with everything said. I don't want to dump a ton of money considering most the neighborhood looks similar, but i am willing to spend some money.
Would it be rediculous to put on something like Hardie siding, wide plank, put some stone on the foundation and then like steve said bump out the entry with a peaked roof?? I know that could become fairly costly but let's just say it wouldn't be, is that something that would help?
If i were to just paint, what colors? I would love to just paint the ugly brick etc but i don't know what colors? Anyone have any ideas on that??
I was watching a "curb appeal" the other night and the contractor threw up some trim and molding on the windows which looked a lot like mine. It ended up looking great. So i looked up who the contractor was and emailed him. Asked him what he did. He said he just nailed up trim over the window. Well what does that really mean? How?
Anyway, thanks so much for all of your input. If you have anymore ideas, colors, examples etc keep them coming!! I need them!!

Thanks again!!

linus
If it were my home I would try the least costly 1st
siding and peaked entryways will eat up $$$$$$$$ in no time.

For the tree follow the natural canopy of the tree which appears to have a mushroom/umbrella shape -

Paint does wonders - I rec posting over on home dec GW site here - you will get lots of help and maybe even someone to do a photoshop mock up

Once you have tackled the least costly - changes to exterior then determine if you want to sink $$$$ - but in a 70's ranch you really may get more return from an update inside

good luck

Here is a link that might be useful: home dec forum

I would not invest any money to update the entry. The house will still look like it is stuck in the 70's. The most I would do is to repaint the house. The color is blah and it doesn't go well with the brick. The color also makes the out dated windows and garage door stick out. I can't really see what your front door looks like other than it looks dark.

I would just paint the house white. That way the garage door will blend in more as opposed to being the focal point and the windows would blend in more. That tree needs some serious trimming. It blocks the other side of your house. All you see now is the garage side and the tree.

When you are able to, I would recommend replacing the windows and garage door.

Trim the tree extensively. Hire someone; this isn't a weekend odd-job.

Consider painting the siding and garage door a less stark color.

Beyond that, I'd do NOTHING. The house is what it is, and it looks just fine. I would never paint brick.

Thanks so much for all your help/thoughts. Sometimes i think i can get caught up in the ideas! But like chisue said "the house is what it is." So i'm going to do what jejvtr said and check out the other forum. I have done a lot of updating inside, tile, walls fixtures, cabinets etc. So i just want the outside to present a little something more! When you see the same house everyday you tend not to see the things others see when they look at the house. So i really appreciate your comments!!
Thanks!

One action to consider that wouldn't cost very much but which might set your house above others on the street might be window boxes. If you choose to (or can) paint the window trim a contrasting color, you could put a window box of the same color under each of those short windows and that would visually enlarge the windows. Colorful blooms (or at least interesting-looking sticks for the winter) wouldn't hurt, either.

Check the link below (pdf file), our last house was a split, now struggling with a contemporary on a sloping lot with a walk-out (similar funky front issues).

Here is a link that might be useful: Split visions

1st thing would be to move to a better neighborhood. From the looks of it, you've recently had at least a double homicide in the driveway :)

I know this is an old thread, but I found it looking for ideas for our split-level and then came across this photo that seemed to capture some of the ideas already posted on here.

Here is a link that might be useful: Split idea