Taller windows will help somewhat visually, but the real culprit here is the design choice of a shed dormer. It's an awkward look with the home and roof style chosen. However, the windows will probably need to be returned anyway as I do not see any indication that they are safety glass, which is a MUST when they are that close to the floor. That would allow you to change them out to taller windows or ones with a transom on top. In addition, the dormer and roof detailing does not appear to be flashed correctly, nor does the door directly under it. There will be a rain management issue from this overall design, and no, it's NOT too late to change how it's framed, but the builder will try to convince you it is.

We just bought a house with lots of issues (roof, plumbing, electrical, poorly done renovations, bad siding, etc.) and I would say unless you are prepared to do a LOT yourselves, you would definitely need far more than the difference between this house and the turnkey one to do the work. We are probably in a much more expensive market than you are (based on that house price) and we are paying about $25K just for the roof, because the previous roof was failing and there was a TON of damage to wood underneath that needed to be replaced -- original quote was for $14K before the old shingles came off! This is a moderately priced roofing job, we could have gone cheaper but we only want to do a roof once. Redoing our wiring is going to cost ~$10K, plumbing ~$5K. We're doing all the demolition and plan to do drywall and finishing ourselves, otherwise those would be higher. Siding is a HUGE expense -- around here it runs at least $15K to re-side a house. We're putting down a new slab floor in the unfinished basement and that will be around $4K. $250 per dumptruck load (and we've filled three already). Anywhere from $700-$3000 for new water heater, depending on whether we go tankless. Then there are the multitude of "smaller" expenses, like replacing some of the windows (previous owner put vinyl windows meant for a stucco house on one with wood siding), someday refinishing the floors, laying a new patio, extending the deck, interior paint -- it all adds up! We figure it will cost us at least $150K to get the house to where we want it (spread over many years) but it will still be far less than we would have paid for a turnkey house in the same neighborhood. Hope that's somewhat helpful!

Its actually kind of a tan color - which is similar to the windows. Kind of hard to see in this photo though. At some point I want to address the railing situation - not sure if we will add another rail or just put some potted plants on the other side. The sidewalk is in terrible condition. We will eventually need to break it up and pour a new one. Currently trying to remove a 8x8 concrete slab (for previous owner's hot tub) in the backyard and it is a total pain in bum. Wondering how the wood door is going to look next to all the white in the door frame. Any other suggestions/advice are appreciated :)

Thanks for all the insightful comments! A little more detail on the home: The lot goes back past the fence (all of that dense shrubbery/bamboo at the end of the picture is still on the property) including a driveway with parking pad for 3+ cars right behind the fence). Another major detail is that the interior has been 60% stripped to the studs already because the previous owners were in the process of converting it from an illegal duplex to a single-family home. They abandoned the project last year when they were relocated to Canada for work and it has sat on the market since. They replaced windows, fixed up the exterior, stabilized the foundation, and removed a few interior walls (adding beams to open up the floorplan). I've also spoken to two contractors who believe there is space to add ~750 square feet just from the tax maps and applicable zoning ordinances. Unfortunately, adding square footage would take away from the back yard (which is currently a good size but not as huge as some of the ones in the neighborhood). Either way, I plan on spending a lot of time/budget on the back yard to maximize the limited space! I'll have to talk to a Realtor to see if a nice but tiny backyard would deter too many homebuyers in the area. Here is what I've gathered from your comments! Railings need to go up ASAP Shutters might work, but first I need to add a full-size porch or at least a nice awning over the door. I'll get quotes for both, but leaning towards a nice awning in order to have budget leftover for the rest of the yard. Raised plant beds might not look as good as I thought, mature foundation shrubbery might be a good alternative! Add a small fence or hedge to cover the AC units and meters. Consider a picket fence across the front yard (the three houses to the left all have these, so it should be allowed). My favorite idea: plant hedging or bushes alongside the retaining wall to create some privacy and division from the street. We went for a walk in the neighborhood yesterday and a lot of the corner lots have this! Last - I definitely need to hire a landscape architect to help me figure all of this out. I might have to come up with a phased approach depending on the internal renovation costs, but over the next 2-3 years I can see all of this happening! I am not in the position where I can afford to drop $600K for a house that still needs updating or $800K for turn-key (what the neighborhood is going for), so I'm looking for homes that need a little more creativity and TLC that what a typical investor is willing to give! Links to a couple of neighborhood houses on the market for reference: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/396-Garden-Ln-NW-Atlanta-GA-30309/35908670_zpid/ https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/355-Lofton-Rd-NW-Atlanta-GA-30309/35908720_zpid/ https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/393-Deering-Rd-NW-Atlanta-GA-30309/35908609_zpid/ (across the street on that main road - likely a tear down)