Congratulations on getting your offer accepted!

Totally agree that the big bush needs either to be cut back or removed. Have a professional come out to do the work. It will look so much better without the satellite dish too.

Do you have a photo showing the entrance behind the bush?

Congratulations. This has nothing to do about the color or what you are asking, but make sure you get a home inspection. Why is the neighbors downspout connected on your property? Also an electric line raped around the downspout? Cute house.

Very cute home! After the bush goes, I think you can perhaps tackle the color of the steps and railing, though Michael Stiller makes an excellent point about taking renovations slowly for a little while as you "get to know" your new home.

Good luck! I hope it works out for you!

I think removing the satellite dish and the bush, then adding different/better landscaping will make a huge difference. And won't be costly! The color of the house is fine so I wouldn't mess with that yet... like a few others mentioned, once you have moved in there will surely be lots of small/big projects that come up :)

Don't know your zone, but a big evergreen bush up against a cement porch and metal railing can hold moisture and snow/more moisture against the porch and railing, and promote rust and deterioration in general. I'd just tear out the shrub and start again with smaller, less oppressive things. Wait until they go on sale at the big boxes around you, close to the end of the season, it shouldn't be that costly.

^ Like that idea for walkways and patios. Not for the entire yard. Too much of a good thing IMO.

Removing that oversized bush will clear the way for you to see what you need to do. I still think a professional landscape design is needed. Don't do this without a plan.

Is fiance a city boy? There's no good reason to try to pave the front yard, in my opinion.

I like the color of your house and I sure wouldn't paint it blue like Doug suggested if I were painting at all. Painting a house that size would cost big bucks and like others said save your money for other projects that need doing. Once you get rid of that monster shrub other ideas will come to you for brightening up the front. Plants should never be up against a house and should be at least a foot away from the house. Shrubs and trees about 4 feet or more. Plants against a house can cause mold and rot and their roots can undermine a foundation.

If the foundation is structurally sound - which could be a concern in a house of this age - then there is no issue with plant roots :-) That is a rather firmly held horticultural myth.

And it is not clear from the photo provided but if the front yard is as tiny as I imagine it to be, getting rid of a lawn is not a bad choice....mowing and tending a postage stamp sized lawn is a PITA. The same area with paving and groundcovers offers a very low maintenance alternative to a lawn and sets a stage for a few well placed containers or one or two specimen plants.

What your fiance is suggesting is high maintenance due to the grass always having to be trimmed. Ask me how I know! Make the path area the path and the grass area all grass. If you want to mix plants in with stepping stones use low groundcovers.