Those who have watched HGTV or other home improvement channels are familiar with the concept of curb appeal. Even realtors could not stress enough how curb appeal will enhance any home and, therefore, allow the owners to get a reasonable offer for their listing.
Today, realtors are realizing the importance of outdoor structures as part of enhancing a property. If you are on the fence between building a gazebo and a pergola, hopefully, this article will help you decide.
A pergola, as defined by cityseamlesspatiocovers.com, is a structure that is characterized by geometrical shapes. Four or six columns support the crisscrossing or parallel wood or metal beams and there is a uniform space between each equilateral piece. 
Meanwhile, a gazebo refers to a structure that is often used as an extension of the indoor space.
The pergola can be both free-standing or attached to the house. The gazebo, by contrast, requires a separate space on the property.
Enhancing Curb Appeal
There are many ways to enhance curb appeal. It can be as simple as decorating your mailbox, painting your door, adding furniture to your porch or patio, and landscaping your garden.
Gardening is a great way to bond with your kids and introduce them to the value of going green. Likewise, when you plant vegetables, it can lessen the time you spend commuting to the grocery store for ingredients. And there is nothing like cooking food using vegetables you picked right from your own front or backyard garden.
Even other features, like the solar panels on your roof, can influence your curb appeal. This can be a catch twenty-two situation. Because on the one hand, you would instead want these energy-saving panels on the backside of your house. So that there is nothing that breaks the seamless lines of your roof. But then, on the other hand, you want your neighbors and potential buyers to see it during their first impression of your house. Not only are you proud of your go green initiative, but the added value these panels put on your home is not something to shy away from. Giving them an upfront knowledge that the electrical bill is squashed can be a deciding factor for many buyers. What to do? If all else fails, call an expert. Find out from your local realtors what the current market feeling is regarding the visibility of features like this and adjust accordingly.
A research study from Michigan State University revealed that curb appeal adds as much as 11% to the value of your home. So, if the current comparative value of your home is $300,000, you can expect an additional $30,000 on the listing price.
It is almost always a worthy investment to enhance the curb appeal of your home. Sure, you are going to spend some money at the outset, but you do get it back once you sell your home.
For instance, a pergola may cost between $3,000 and $5,000. But, using the example above, that $3,000 investment can turn into $30,000 in additional profit on the sale of your house.
Gazebo or Pergola
If you want to enhance your garden without spending a ton of time on the structure, then a pergola is the best choice. However, homeowners need to decide whether full coverage is important to them since a pergola does provide maximum protection from the sun and rain.
If you are thinking of an outdoor space that you can relax in or host parties in, then a gazebo may be the better option. Understand, though, that a gazebo is significantly more expensive than a pergola. You are looking at between $6,000 and $10,000 in costs.
With that said, planting climbing plants on the pergola can give you enough shade during sunny days and you can optimize the use of the structure to expand your indoor footprint. Some metal chairs and benches and tables under the lattice cover will give you a place to rest while you are gardening.
Both pergolas and gazebos have their pros and cons. In the end, a homeowner’s budget and the purpose of the outdoor structure will lead to the appropriate choice. Either way, the structure can add significant value to the home.
