Thanks so much everyone! I'm reading this instead of doing my statistics midterm...so maybe that's a thanks? Instead of a thanks! Ha ha! Anyway, this year's budget is about $2k which could stretch to cover new stairs or new railings but wouldn't extend to porching out the roofline unless I learn some carpentry skills really quick. I completely 100% agree that adding a porch over the front door would be amazing. I live in a rainy climate and it is so much more welcoming that way. I totally dream of a front porch so maybe I should look into making it happen. circuspeanut and GreenDesigns, thanks so much for your photoshops. I do love the longer hat! I think I may have made a mistake by making it so high contrast ... maybe a darker beige would be better than charcoal. I have an idea involving doing the porch and the hat in one color on vinyl shake, and leaving the bottom and the side the beige. Let me think on it...but don't let me photoshop it tonight! My midterm is due at midnight. Although I like colored trim, there is no way I would paint cheap vinyl trim, thereby removing its only bonus (low maintenance) but maybe I can go shopping and see if there are multi-colored trims available? I kind of like the look of a white trim with just a little black square around it. Very tailored. I'm mixed on the barn boards. I like the look of them online but am unsure if they fit with the decided charmlessness of my builder-grade beige vinyl -- I love them on houses with shakes! Replacing and reframing the front door is probably out of the budget. Unless I could get one the same width but with skinny sidelights on either side... Ok - what if the darker brown parts were coordinating vinyl shakes? Man I wish my roof were more peaked. This post was edited by robotropolis on Sat, Mar 9, 13 at 21:51

Where did you all get the software to change the look of this house? That is a great program and I would love to be able to do that and try different things. I like the idea of landscaping around this house. What a difference it made. My house is in need of some work around the front also. I bought some stuff from a wrought iron website for the outside of my home. A welcome sign, house numbers and some small trellises for my garden flowers. Also I bought wrought iron hooks - kinda like s hooks that I could hang plants from for my side porch. The wrought iron does not take away from the plants because it is so dark it just blends in yet when someone really looks they can see how beautiful the hangers are instead of just white hangers or yarn hangers or something. It adds to the beauty of my home subtley and that is just what I was looking for. There was a site that had everything I needed. Now my place looks nice but I need some flowers, plants etc for the front.

Congratulations! That is one awesome house. With a few special touches to make it yours, it will be the special place for all of you to call HOME. Can't wait to see what decisions you make going forward. And sorry, I thought you all had been living in it for a while. Makes this really exciting to see going forward! Congratulations again! :D

Great job! The pics emphasize the space and views, the house looks clean and livable. The text is much improved, too -- emphasis on size, quality construction and potential uses. Your sellers are lucky to have you as their agent. Fingers crossed your buyer shows up soon.