I suggest the very first thing to do , would be to decide your budget and what you want to achieve , and to a certain degree what the suburb is like ? If it's the 'worst' house in an upmarket suburb , then $100K or even $200k may really lift its value , but if its in a 'cheaper' suburb , you may over capitalise . Like others , some things I'd look at -- -- Do the gardens , trim the tree , looks more like rank grass along the side of the driveway ? Maybe a white stone garden , with a Yukka ort similar . -- The concrete driveway looks 'drunk' , but that may be because of the shapes it was laid in ? Level it , take the front out to the street , talk to an expert about doing a one-run top coat of concrete . -- Remove the fairy lights , relocate the satelite dish . -- Personally , Id frame upwards on the top of the carport and lounge roof , and also the first floor roof , and put bright 25-30cm tall painted or powder coasted alloy panels -- cover the gutters and 'hide' the solar panels . Paint or coat them whatever colour you like , but I'd go for something like bright yellow or orange or red , mid blue , a crisp green ? -- Someone suggested brown wooden 'louvres' full-length over the upstairs windows . I'd be tempted to go with that idea ( buy 30mmx30mm pine , and a mid brown stain -- 6 or 8 'rails' along that upstairs on the side and front you can see in the pictures . Instead of mid-brown stain , a black/charcoal may suit better , especially if you go with those bright panels . -- Maybe a fence in the same 30 x 30 horizontal wood , same stain colour -- ties the upstairs to the 'ground' level ? Relatively budget , and can be done in several steps , but would 'lift' it no end IMO .

You have quite a generous hallway, so I would close in under your stairs for storage. With your idea the underside of the stairway will need to be carefully considered, detailed and built, which will add to the expense. By not worrying about how the underside of the stairs look by enclosing them will probably save you money, and give you the benefit of additional storage. Just remember that if you can draw it in 3D doesn't mean that it can be easily built in reality! Best of luck, Dr Retro of Dr Retro House Calls

No-one seems to have brought up what , to me , seems like the second most logical suggestion ( admitttedly , without knowing the planning rules ) . The logical still seems to be to sell . Failing that , I'd look at extending the study , taking in the courtyard , alter the internal door ( suggestion - a single door on the 'right' side of the existing study doors area ) , add an ensuite ( relatively easy as the existing bathroom is just through the wall ) , and make that room your master bedroom with en-suite . Move the ranchslider , or add a roof to floor window , to get natural light into the new master , and possibly add a skylight or two above the dining room , as it will lose the ranchslider . Not perfect , but if you go up it will be costly , there are engineering issues , matching materials , new roof , all sorts of logistical problems . 'My' suggestion cuts down outdoor space , and may exceed the building to land-size ratios , but its so much easier building , engineering , roofing , plumbing and materials matching wise , gives you all or most of the space you are after , so IMO way more bang per buck . Having said that , only you know your priorities , budget and what you are happy to give up to gain .

depending on which plan you refer to the kitchenette isn't for full meal cooking and the landing is wider than a hallway and/or you could omit the sink and get water out of one of one of the bathroom sinks and/or try the bar along the master bedroom wall ...both original upstairs bathrooms were much too small and the new bathrooms are still modest sizes and a free standing back to wall narrow bath is just possible in ens but not in family bathroom and a built in bath is bigger and easier to clean for the available space in teh family bathroom and includes a ledge for bath toys... mono stringer stairs should be OK in either plan as i've not included any storage under the stairs and assume that unless you are super neat that that space will become a dumping ground for lots of odd things.... a toilet space needs to be at least 1500 long so should be ok to have the bigger shower with space in between shower and bath ..there's enough space for a storage cabinet off the hall but don't forget that there's 2m of linen storage under the sinks in the family bathroom (1.5m in the ens and 1.2m in the downstairs ens) as in-wall mirror doored wall cabinets are better to keep toiletries up away from small kids and a private study should be away from common areas as the study nooks shown are more for casual adult use and kids play ... the study nook upstairs could be closed off but an open stairwell defeats the hope for privacy with all noise audible through the whole house without more solid doors and sound insulation between rooms but fine details can only be confirmed once you clarify which stairwell suits you best as everything is fixed by the location of the stairs and decision about extra powder room but a wider garage makes getting in and out of a car with kids, prams and groceries so much easier and well worth careful consideration..nb the garages in display homes never include cars or any of the usual things we need to store and rereading your post i would have a wall hung "picture" TV behind one of the couches in the family room