Start by removing the shrubs along the foundation which don’t play well with the architecture and are hiding the door and blocking windows. Then take some new photos. Right now it is tough to see the house.

You will get better suggestions with better photos. Stand on the side of the drive opposite the front walk and take a series of photos, rotating your body but not changing where you stand. Start facing the left property line and rotate your body so we have a series of slightly overlapping photos that end up facing the right property line. Current photos don’t show enough detail, and having this series will allow us to see the whole house frontage in a set of photos.

I do rather like the bank of rhododendrons out by where your cars are parked as they hide the cars and help nestle the house into its surroundings without burying the house as the foundation plantings currently do.

I would also consult with an arborist about health of trees and branch placement (are any scraping the roof or walls?)

Any chance you could post larger photos? The one's posted are just a bit hard to see.

This looks like it could be a very interesting house.

First get rid of the over grown bushes.

I am making major assumptions since the pictures are small. But I would replace the windows with good quality wood frame windows. The ones you have now look like vinyl and the framing is overly thick.

Is the belly roof projection actually functional? I would get rid of it.

I would use in board and batten and lap siding. Replace the roof in a charcoal or a weathered wood.

Adding on to NHBabs picture-taking instructions ...

• Stand on the red dot, which is in line with center of house.
• Show everything between the light blue lines in a series of slightly overlapping photos (all taken while you stand on the red dot.)
• Hold the camera in the vertical format so we can see all of house and some trees.
• The camera will be looking in the direction of orange arrows, following the path (pivoting) of dark blue arrows.

Since overgrown shrubbery covers so much of the house, you'll probably need to take a second set of photos later, after you remove some of it. But let's see what you have now.

Definitely leave the rhodies.

Thank you. I don’t own this house yet but seriously considering it. I will get better photos. I am not sure yet if we keep the roof. If we must due to its condition I would get a black roof. If the roof is still good we will probably need to keep it for a while so I would be looking for colors that could go either way.

Sorry, if we must get rid of the roof due to it’s condition I would go with a black roof

These are updated photos. House needs a new roof / gutters and we would put new siding. Would you change siding to horizontal and how
Many times? Would you change the style of the windows or just replace/update as is?

The pictures are an improvement and will help for assessing what's there. But for making into a composite scene to use to give feedback to you, they will not work, as the photographer changed locations between pictures. Also, they do not pan far enough right or left to see enough background surroundings at each side of the house.. Pictures are free. No need to be stingy!

I could only post 4 at a time.

More photos

In lieu of a totally black roof, you might consider shades of dark gray and black mix of shingles -- it would show stains less and some trees do drop sap and there are black streaks on the red roof already.

As you consider the landscaping, know what the bushes in the yard are and the appropriate way and time of year to trim or move any you intend to keep -- it may be the at some could be moved during the right time of year. To me, having bushes that bloom is far better than the back breaking work of tending a flower bed. I also tend to plant them in rows to make it easier to mow around them. (That grass could use a feed and seed).

If you are going to be doing any electrical updating, see if the wires providing power, etc., to the house can be put underground -- and do make a point of knowing where any/all underground utility wires and pipes are located before digging.

Before deciding on all horizontal siding, you might consider variations: a combination of vertical downstairs and horizontal upstairs -- or vise versa; alternately, horizontal on the two story and vertical on the single story -- or vise versa.

Before you buy this house, pay attention to what side is north, south, east and west and what side has and doesn't have windows. It seems unusual that there are no windows on the two story part of the house overlooking the entry sidewalk, not even upstairs where privacy would not be an issue.

Since you will have to replace the siding, I would definitely get rid of the secondary roof ledge that goes around the two story section. It is not needed except on the side that has the garage and on that side you could make it a bit deeper to give move of a cover to the sliders.

I would think of using board and batten for the siding.

Use over-sized gutters and leaders. Try not to have a gutter go around a corner; they never drain well.

I would do a dark charcoal instead of black for the roof.

Modern Farmhouse | 2019 Dry Creek Parade · More Info

Modern Farmhouse - Durham, NC · More Info

If the windows are in good repair, keep them. I am guessing when you pull off roof and siding there will be sheathing and trim boards that will need replacing as well $$