We sold our house last year so I feel your pain. Fortunately ours sold after about a week on the market. If I were a buyer for yours, here's what I would like to see: The existing landscape in front looks bare. I'm not wanting to see dirt. I would DEFINITELY fill in that space with dark mulch (the dark brown kind, not the red/cedar kind) and put in some easy peasy fillers. Do the same for the bush on the left - mound up some dark mulch around it. That will help ground it & differentiate between grass & shrubbery. Center the garage light if you can reasonably. I would not go to the extent of tearing down siding to move it. (It's weird your electrician didn't center it to begin with, I'm guessing an oversight, too bad!) Bring the red shutter color in somewhere else. Would shutters fit on any other windows? I can't tell the margin space from the picture. Maybe some red landscaping? I'm not sure here... I don't want to see the front door red. Red shutters, red brick, red door is a bit much IMO. Maybe a dark green, or a deep blue. It looks like your porch gets good shade so you shouldn't have to worry about instant fading dark colors. Something to help it stand out rather than blend in. I think the garage door color is fine. I prefer either white garage doors when the trim is white, 2nd choice is house color. Add some color around the house, even if you do a quick fix (like pansies/early spring flowers in pots, rather than taking the time/effort of digging them into the ground). I'd prefer in pots so that I could "visualize" the possibilities instead of thinking about all the work it's going to take to dig up those flowers I wouldn't have picked for that spot. :) I would do something along the left side of the house. It appears that lot is still open, so I'm assuming that side is highly visible and if your potential buyers approach from that side, a blank side wall might be a turnoff. Maybe three white lattices (the kind with stakes you just poke in the ground) with potted plants in front of them... If you have some outdoor furniture, I think a set of chairs with a small table between them would look great under the two small windows on the right. If you don't have any, I would look into borrowing some from friends, or maybe even investing in a low cost set that you can reuse in your next place. I would also be tempted to put something inexpensive and green on iehter side of the front door. Maybe some potted ferns. Do you have house numbers? If not, I would add some nice house numbers. We received two offers, and our house numbers (iron fron RH) were something that both couples commented on. They said it instantly made the house classier than those next to it (who had used your regular builder grade scrolly black numbers). I dunno how true this tends to be, but it's some of the feedback we got.

One other thing, as far as plantings go, eventually you need to identify what the trees and shrubs are on your property. That's key to deciding what to plant around them, and how to care for them to keep them looking their best. For example, if one of your trees has a wide, shallow root system, that is going to determine what can grow under it and how to plant it. Some plants express toxins from their roots or leaves that inhibit the growth of other plants around them, etc. You may never get lush growth, depending on what the trees are. Something to think about as you progress. I wouldn't repaint the house, save the money for more significant improvements, and I'm wondering if you have vinyl siding which would make that problematic anyway. Landscaping is artfully solving problems, which to me looks like you need a stoop and as long as you're at it, some type of awning or extension of the roof to cover the stoop so that when folks knock on your door when it is raining they're not standing in front of where all the water is going to run down off the roof! It looks like you have a groovy walkway already no? After that, I also second the suggestion for a little picket fence to visually block off your lake side from weekend gawkers driving around the lake. Not necessary but would be nice. Doll it up with plantings if you like. I am totally jealous, I would love a little place like that. One quickie suggestion, to add color and contrast to your hosta beds out front, try astilbe, or various ferns, and various types of heuchera. The classic combos. Also European solomon's seal and lilly of the valley for spring scent. Sweet woodruff makes a good groundcover in shade, as does vinca, the old standby, or ajuga. For spring color, jacob's ladder or virginia bluebells or some type of wild geranium or phlox. Throw in some turtlehead and bottle gentian for summer and fall blooming. Keep it simple, don't plant all of these, they are just suggestions of easy to grow shade garden plants. You want to enjoy your time at the lake and if you don't love to garden you want low maintenance. I'm not sure if they'll grow well in your zone, but azaleas and rugosa roses are classic landscape shrubs. Any of the viburnums would give you beautiful white blooms and low maintenance UNLESS you have a deer issue. If so, they can be grown but need protection. But if your hostas are still alive, the deer may be under control already.

Is one side of the duplex to be your residence or is this intended as a rental investment? If you are keeping it as a duplex, two matching doors is a great idea. Add a full width 6' deep covered porch and full width front steps with a 6' deep full width ground level concrete slab landing ... all divided by a center railing. Then outline the sidewalk with bricks or pavers buried so only their tops are exposed. Consider creating a small private patio area on each side of the entry box for each tenant -- not concrete but a mix of pavers with grass in between them ... easily mowed. https://www.houzz.com/photos/outdoor-fire-pit-with-concrete-grass-pavers-modern-patio-orange-county-phvw-vp~20847724 You might consider beginning a green privacy hedge in front of the landing slab (leaving an opening at the sidewalk, of course) to add more privacy for the patio for each renter -- could be a good selling point for some. Consider a shrub (w/o briars) that keeps its leaves and looks good year round that will grow well in that geographic location. Would Aucuba bushes grow in your planting zone? Agree with another comment that painting all the exterior siding on the entire structure one color with one trim color would be a good idea. If the upstairs siding is still in good shape, consider using that neutral color and all white trim. Paint the downspouts that same color. While I like trees in the yard, I agree with a prior post: those trees are too close to the foundation. Would remove all the landscaping man made "things" -- those white border / outline pieces for the planting areas, etc. -- and focus, at least initially, on creating the perfect lawn all around the structure. If those are Forsythias (shrubs with yellow blooms), keep them but consider trimming them at the appropriate time to create a more dense shrub -- check out care instructions on line. You might consider moving any and all shrubs planted against the building away from the building and planting them elsewhere.

You can do a hard prune on the rhododendron and move it to the right side on your property where you need screening. I would create an enclosure of plants to hide the yard by sliding doors, because that is where most people who don't know better will go. Get a trellis to hide the trash cans. Maybe you can install an arbor over the garage door and extend it out to the steps. Extend the walkway down the drive after you create a rock berm to raise the height. Plant something eye catching to the left of the arbor. I think the deck would look better painted white.