Mary-- Thanks for the input. I don't understand what hopper windows are. Can you explain? I just rode my bike around our neighborhood trying to look for examples of double egress windows in the front and actually found one in a house that has a brick window box in the front just like ours. So, the situation was very similar. It didn't look too terrible. I agree that it isn't the window as much as the big hole in the ground that bothers me the most. The contractor has suggested a tiered planter look, and that has definitely been eliminated because those do look way too contemporary to fit in with our house. The other thing I noticed is that with a brick façade on the lower portion of our house the windows that look the best are the ones that are painted a color that blends right in with the brick rather than trying to coordinate with the regular trim color on the house.

The problem with that clear glass dome is that there is no way to get rid of excess heat that builds up under plastic when the sun is shining on it. That is unless you can leave that window open. That would get rid of the excess heat during the day and heat it a bit at night or you could move the plants inside for the night and close the window. You can't leave a heat mat under seedlings because it would cook the roots. One concern is the different germination temperatures for snaps and tomatoes. Putting snaps on a heating mat will kill the seeds. Snaps germinate at 60-65 degrees and tomatoes at 70 -75 degrees. They also have different starting dates. Snaps take longer to grow into a transplantable plant than tomatoes and must be started earlier than tomatoes. Snaps seedlings also can't take as much sun as tomato seedlings and like to be shaded during the heat of the day. If you think it will work then try it but choose a flower that is compatible with the growing conditions of your tomatoes. Petunias or Salvia would be a good choice. However I think it would be better to sprout them inside so you can keep an eye on moisture and they'd have an even temperature for germinating.

Basement Egress Window Requirements The bottom of the egress window opening can't exceed 44" from the finished floor. The minimum opening area of the egress window is 5.7 square feet. The minimum egress window opening height is 24" high. The minimum egress window opening is 20" wide. The egress window must have a glass area of not less than 8% of the total floor area of room(s) for which it is servicing, to allow the minimum amount of sufficient natural light. * The egress window must have an opening area of not less than 4% of the total floor area of room(s) for which it is servicing, to allow the minimum amount of natural ventilation. * * Multiple windows can be used to service a single area where one window does not meet these percentages of total floor area. As long as the totaled amounts from this combination of windows meet or exceed the 8% for natural light and 4% for natural ventilation. Egress Window Wells Egress window wells are required where the bottom of the egress window is below ground level. The egress well must not interfere with the egress window fully opening. The distance from the egress window to the back of the Egress well must be at least 36" The minimum area of the egress well must be 9 square feet. (width x projection) Egress Ladders and/or Steps Egress ladders and or steps are required on window wells deeper than 44" and must be permanently attached. An egress ladder or step may encroach into well up to 6". Steps and/or distance between rungs of the ladder can't exceed 18". The rungs of an egress ladder must be 12" wide or greater and must project a minimum of 3" away from the back wall, but can't exceed 6" from the back of the wall.

Try uploading photos again. Do you have a budget range in mind? If you are digging out five feet deep, you will need professionals, permits, etc. Are there rocks? Ask your real estate agent if she has some referrals.