The landscape:

The round bushes on stilts in the front entry need to go away. They make the entry uninviting. New plants can be installed more in the height range as those seen in your Corner view. The bridge is a useful item no doubt. It looks a bit sketchy though. Clean and re-stain the deck and treads. Consider a completely new railing design.

Overall, I think you would do good to find a local garden professional to inventory the plants you have and make recommendations about which ones to keep and which to toss. A new planting plan will follow that.

Take a chain saw and remove all the overgrown shrubs which were planted way too close to the house and repost a photo so that we can see the house to help you. There is no saving those overgrown shrubs because as I said someone, probably a builder, planted them way too close to your house and foundation. Plantings should be 6 feet away from the foundation with three feed of air circulation between the house and the first planting.

Also you may need a new roof or in the very least have it washed to get the streaks off.

Thanks, someone who doesn’t smoosh the planting up against the foundation, my hero. And you have a much better software program than I do! I think the sidewalk probably needs to be pulled farther away from the house - but the OP wanted inexpensive so that’s not likely in the cards

I like your house and the "natural feel" of the landscape, don't get carried away and create a feeling that is too formal. A word of caution, beware people who are not professional landscape architects giving advice. Although they are well intentioned you should err on the side of caution. I hope everything comes out to your satisfaction. Happy New Year!

I'm not a professional, but I definitely agree with pulling out all the shrubs blocking your windows. A power wash would do wonders for your roof.

Are you replacing the roof? Will you be selling or staying after you make changes?

I recommend hiring a professional arborist for a one or two hour walkaround consultation. The two trees close to the foundation may have to be removed. Other valuable trees may just need light pruning at the right time of year for your area.

This is an interesting house on a nice wooded lot that would benefit from a new professional landscape design after you gather ideas here.

Agree with everyone removing those bushes would be a huge help! Research plants that grow in your zone and then find what you like. Checkout other houses around and see if you like any plants you see.

Add my vote to removing the large shrubs around the house. A couple of trees look dangerously close to the house .... such as in imminent danger. Coordinate new shrubs and plantings with architectural features (instead of covering them.) Add width to the walkway or replace it with a wider walk. Add depth to the planting beds beyond the hardscape borders that exist now. Re-design (enlarge) islands such that trees are not at its edge. They should be a few feet in from the edge. Maintain the islands such that there is consistent groundcover from edge to edge. Currently, there is a variety of weedy looking plants in them. Also, limb up the trees in the islands such that they frame (surround overhead) the view to the house, not block it.

You have received good advice about the garden, but I have a question for you -- why do you call this a brick ranch house? Other than being single-story, it has none of the elements of a ranch style house, and the turret brings to mind a nod to French Norman architecture. I've seen many homes on Houzz referred to as "ranch style" that look very far removed from the Cliff May designs made popular in the 50s and 60s. Educated architects and designers, please elucidate.

I know I refer to one story homes as a ranch even though ranches are technically long single story homes which I live in now. My home is like 70 feet long by 30 feet deep

From looking at the existing plants, it is probably zone 7 or 8.

Plant zone 7 as the OP's name shows. Took me a while to figure out the plant zones are next to the name in this section of houzz.