Start at the top! The roof looks old and needs re spraying, even a pressure wash with a good shiny finish would enhance. I agree with the above advice, but most of all painting the bricks, even though some see this as a sin, I would paint them bright and white. A georgous bright blue Aqua front door would help with some matching pots either side. I would put in a circular driveway with a wide front entrance. Also I suggest some form of down posts across the front, again painted in Aqua and white. If you have room for a carport match the colours again. If this house is dark inside I would install some form of automatic ceiling windows to create light and brightness throughout. Your garden, well I would give those balls some serious trimming and remove anything too obtrusive. You could always create mounds around the circular driveway and replant using an landscaping expert. Ñot only would this totally transform your home, bring it up to date and add several hundred thousands of dollars, it's worth the time effort and expense! Kind regards, Jo-Anne Aherne of Woollahra omenpeak@msn.com

House has many good features, I love how the bedrooms are divided from the living area, that can be very important if you have young children. I even like how the door to the laundry is screened from the dining area - little things like that are important to me. The toilet in the bathroom would annoy me, but having the second toilet in the laundry would offset that. I think I would be inclined to close off the lounge room as a TV/Media room that would free up the general living area for just living. The outdoor areas look well planned with excellent access from the house. Oklouise's idea of relocating the kitchen looks an excellent idea but plumbing could be an issue here, firstly it would be expensive just to move the plumbing and something to be generally avoided with renovations, and secondly with rooms underneath the house, it may not be possible. As the kitchen is now, opening it more to the living room could be a good idea except I can see possible safety issues with the hotplates being exposed to passing traffic - especially with young children in the house. I agree with David - you do have to think about how you are going to live in the house and the lifestyle you envisage. For this reason, if you do decide to purchase, I would strongly suggest you live in the house for a year before doing a thing. That way the things that aren't working for you will become very obvious as well as things you need or would make life easier making decision making simpler. You will also get a feel for the lighting in the house, where it can be improved and the aspect of the house - what rooms may need warming (south facing rooms) or what rooms need cooling (west facing rooms).

It’s a bit difficult to tell from the photos, but it seems the paving is in good condition? Maybe a pressure clean? Against the colourbond fence, maybe establish some shrubs that will eventually get tall enough to screen the next door house, and soften the fence? The back deck and stairs - does that flow from your living room. Maybe if budget allows, extending that with a nice deck with wide stairs could increase the connection between inside and outside, while reducing the overall expanse of paving. There is a sold wall next to the yard where the hills hoist used to be. Which room is this? It would be nicer if that room had windows overlooking the yard, or doors to link it to backyard - but this could depend on the function of the room. If not viable, needs something to soften the blank wall. Turfing the part of the yard where the hills hoist used to be, may make a big difference.

I guess the first question is what do you want to do in the front garden ? A fence like dreamers 2nd pic looks great , and hides almost everything , but personally i don't think it matches the style of your house . You don't have children or pets , so it then comes down to a bbq , or a cricket pitch haha . My gut feeling would be to enlarge the front terrace , probably by removing the wrought iron work , and have a 2nd wooden terrace , one step ( say 200mm ) lower than the concrete one , add a pergola over the lot , maybe a latticework wooden panel ( or even 2 ) at the very front , maybe a builtin seat along the righthand side . Of course , you will also want at least a stainless barbeque , maybe an outdoor kitchen , as well as a couple of outdoor tables , and at least 8 matching chairs . There are problems with both low and tall front fences due to the layout of your section , your house is pleasant , my idea would be to update and upgrade it a bit , without trying to make it something it isn't , or without hiding it .