The stone is not very attractive. If you can, I would replace it with clapboard. When you get the new garage doors get ones with windows. If you can fit a door with sidelight, I think it would look better. The yellow is very stong. A softer color would look better. I think you could do a shed roof on the porch. I would remove the shutters. They are wrong for the picture window and just bring attention to the off-center door. They also seem a bit large for the windows. I like the current posts.

Good luck with your new house.

Your new home has potential. How new is the roof? The roof will inform your color choices. I'm wondering if moving the electrical meter off the front of the house is a reasonable cost. I agree with @houssaon's comments about the stone, garage door, and door. Maybe center the front door between the upper windows.

The stone work is an unusual percentage. I'm used to seeing it in a wider band, so I'm not sure if it works to keep it. What colors are you thinking for the siding? Dark tones are very popular here. That would really make the stone pop. Moving a meter is usually cost prohibitive and it appears it is in line with where the power comes into the home. That would have to be moved also. Shutters are not popular/modern so maybe just remove them. Your porch has potential for a seating area. A lot could be done with a bit of railing to spruce it up, formalize it.

Sweet house.

I agree with removing the stone. The stone is pretty but there is not enough to make an impact. The angle of the roof doesn't bother me, once you paint the home you will see it can be sweet. Assuming roof is all good... Spend the money below.

2) New paint color or siding color

3) Bigger more substantial pillars on the front step.

4) Move the electrical if you can but if you can't find a way to disguise it. Search hide utility box on google and you will see several suggestions. Painting the electrical box and even using a trellis that won't interfere with the box could really make it disappear.

5) Shutters and front door different color

6) Garage doors with windows

7) update light fixture in the front

8) Grass in the front.

9) A Bench in the area to the right of the front door.

All of your ideas are good ones, now the hard part is having a vision in how to pull the components together and over what time period.

-Getting quotes may also help with decisions, and then prioritize, looking at what will have the most impact. As you move ahead, you’ll also get a better sense of how each improvement will affect the next decision. For instance, you mentioned: updating brick, or removing, installing new siding, or repainting.

- Then tackle garage and the 2 doors, and the front porch. Only consider lighting once other changes are made.

- Decide if you want shutters, but I’d definitely remove the ones on lower window.

- Leave the landscaping/front walk until the big changes are made, so it’s not ruined and to complement the new look. Again can be done in phases.

- Suggest pouring over ideas on line and driving around your neighbourhood - if there are similar homes, note the updates you like. You may not see your home’s style, so just focus on colors/combinations/materials that appeal to you.

My best advice is don't get overwhelmed. Figure out your plan and then attack one item at a time especially if you are doing the work yourself.

For me the first question is are you planning interior renovations? IMO those come first since sometimes thye have an effect of the exterior. I think the stone on the foundation makes sense but not around the garge doors, Always when getting a new to you home you want to make it yours but stop and really have a plan before doing one thing and best when you wait forat least 3 months before doing anything. Sometimes it is not possible to do one thing at a time but a well thought out plan can really help. The reason I say interior first is also that the actual guts of the home all need to be done before the pretty stuff. I satrt by getting all the plumbing, electrical and heating checked to see if it is all up to code . I have donee many renovations for myself and also had a renovation company and always guts first.

First thing is to remove that huge tree right next to your house and fix the slope, which seem to be directing water towards the left side of the house. I think you will find rotten water damaged framing when you remove that stone on the left side.

The condition of the garage doors makes me wonder about the condition of the driveway. The next time it rains, look at how/whether water is pooling in front of the doors. I think you have an opportunity here for a nice cottagey look for this house if you make the changes the other commenters have made. If you can't move the front door, can you add a window to the left of it to balance it? Since we don't know what the floorplan is I don't know if this is doable or not.

Lovely home. Live there for a while before you make decisions that cost you $$$. Nothing on the exterior needs to be done tomorrow.

Should you decide you'd like to adjust the stone, there are options. You can apply a limewash to adjust the color.

See below for a completely new color scheme for your home. Do research on finding the best roof you can afford. There are new and better products that replace roof shingles every year so take your time to make your decision.

The lot needs a new landscaping plan, but don't undertake that until you know if you want to adjust any of the hard-surface walkways on your lot.

Your house could look very nice done the right way. Step back from any updates outside until you live in it for a while to see what windows and door changes are needed. It's much easier and cheaper to relocate and change the windows and door sizes before addressing exterior siding, so create a master plan and do the updating in the proper sequence and don't put the cart before the horse.

For example I'm not loving the stationary picture window and doing the outside of the house first and later trying to change the window is backward and costly. If the window was replaced before the siding the opening could be easily resized to a stock size saving up to 70% on the window price controlling costs and preventing issues.

Know what you have before swinging a hammer. It's an old house, so does it have insulation? I've seen houses built in the 60's with 1" of insulation, and houses from the 40's and before with none. Condition of the Electrical wiring, plumbing, HVAC and old windows should all be considered before dumping your cash into cosmetic fixes. I see a 60 amp electrical meter hanging on the wall which is a tell tale of where your first priorities might be.

To add to the comments above:

If you have an SUV or pickup truck, check to see if the garage has a good amount of clearance for the vehicle roof. You may need to raise the garage door openings by 6 or 12 inches (this is not a beginner DIY job) before getting new garage doors.

Also, the garage doors look like wood. If they are, sealing them up with a coat of paint will help prevent water from being absorbed and making the garage doors even heavier. It's also a morale booster to have the garage doors look nice when you drive up.

Although making major changes should be done as commented above, making sure the outside shell is watertight is very important. If it is just a matter of repainting the trim here and there, that's a fine start to DIY with the fairly inexpensive cost of brushes, sandpaper, primer and one can of good trim paint matched to the existing trim. If you are lucky, there will be a can of trim paint left in the garage or basement: even if it's unusable, it may have the color name and formula printed on it.

Since this is a long haul job, and you may need to spend some time dreaming about the finishing steps, consider buying a paint fan deck (under $40) from your favorite paint company. It's not only useful when considering what coordinates with what, it's fun.

Already mentioned but needs repeating. First thing that needs to happen is removal of the large shade tree. The roots will, if not already have, compromise the house foundation, the sidewalk & driveway. Plus being potentially lethal if it goes down in a storm.

"First thing is to remove that huge tree right next to your house.."

This would be near criminal.

Think comprehensively, please, particularly if you're going to do a project at a time. I'd live there a while before doing anything.

If the roots of the tree haven't impacted the foundation yet, they likely will not in the future. Trees take too long to grow to cut any down without a good reason.

Criminal mind 1 : I wonder if anyone is home?

Criminal mind 2: There's windows on the garage door. Stand on your toes to see if a car is inside.

Agree about the tree, don't cut it down.

I live in a heavily wooded area. Tons of large trees. They can be trimmed to keep the home safe. You will hate it if you remove it--just because. SAVE THE TREES!

"If the roots of the tree haven't impacted the foundation yet, they likely will not in the future."

Tree roots can be safely pruned.

Please post updates as you go along.