MetroMom- FYI: There is a post on the remodel forum from someone who bought a home with a painted brick exterior. I remebered reading it so I searched and found it! You may want to read his post before you proceed. I know you mentioned something about a concern re: possible transfer in future. http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/remodel/msg021538463187.html?9 Hope this helps! Here is a link that might be useful: ideas for improving exterior of this house

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

thanks everyone. I apologize for not leaving other details beforehand. my friends family has full access of the home. and has been maintaining the proper in the meantime as they have worked thru probate for other assets. the home was in trust, and thus will be sold that way and then distributed based on their uncles wishes in his LT. unfortunately, his health has been bad for over a decade and though everyone tried, the inside of his home is filled unfathomable amount of things, boxes, etc. The family is in the process of hiring a company that will take possession of any belongings they want to purchase otherwise the rest will go to a non-profit for veterans getting back on their feet. my friends father is a pastor and he and his wife are the simplest and most humble people I know. But like some of us, clearly if and when someone passes, its 2 full time jobs trying to figure things out and put all the pieces together. the home has power and full use. so all these suggestions are easily possible. as for me trying to do too much, I'm just circling the world of ideas from a great consulting community like all of you from HOUZZ, because there are some things that will be done to the inside and I just want to make sure that if needed, no ideas arent thrown on the table for the outside. I clearly will not do anything that isnt driven by the family or in the best interest of the home, family, etc. and I also understand that you can look at it in tiers of cost like was mentioned above with 3 different categories. my friend is going to sit with her folks tomorrow or Friday so I was just measily trying to other some thought when I know that they don't have the time to think thru all this. so I appreciate everyone's comments. I really do and all will shared.

We have a 20k budget for landscape and curb appeal. @flopsycat1 you are right, that side asphalt is 10 feet wide and trash cans don't need that much. Would the slope with landscape look good? We walked around the neighborhood to look at similar houses and most of them have a retaining wall with stairs and have a two car asphalt parking spot - this is what my landscaper suggests too. We like to keep the slope not just for trash can, but for ADA wheelchairs as well, when our parents visit.