Sears house

One woman's quest to locate houses purchased as kits from Mail Order catalogs

Sears sold more then 75,000 catalog home kits between 1908 to 1940 all over the country. This Sears home was built in 1923. Houses were shipped from Chicago via boxcar and came with 10,000 to 30,000 pieces, a 75-page instruction book and a promise that “a man of average abilities could assemble a Sears kit home in about 90 days" About half of buyers built the homes themselves. Some mail-order house enthusiasts estimate that about 70 percent of Sears houses are still standing.

Many architectural historians call for preserving mail-order houses.

Over the last few years, between the energy market going nuts, COVID-19, and inflation, people have become significantly more aware of just how much the cost of living is spiraling out of control. It’s a pretty common refrain, that many younger people can’t afford housing, but this has started to expand to cars and even groceries.

How about a light-hearted happy post amongst the stories of a declining economy and too much theft and aches and pains? Here are picture of the top five...

The Americus

The surprising Sears Bryant was sold in 1938 and 1939. This design was revolutionary and dramatically different from any other model Sears sold. The Bryant was the first (and last) International style house that Sears Roebuck ever offered. The International style is simple and industrial. The Sears Bryant has many characteristics of that style, including: a box shape a flat roof (that screams modern!) an asymmetrical facade unornamented walls (the Bryant has a mostly brick facade, however…

Sears began offering house plans in 1908. The first Sears Plan Catalog was published in 1908. According to the Sears Archives the first bill of sale for a complete “modern home” was …

Competing with other kit home builders in the first quarter of the 20th century, Sears offered an assortment of home plans and kits that had appeal to a broad spectrum of home buyers. Small bungalows, large farmhouses, four squares, and lightly decorated Queen Anne styles provided something for nearly everyone. All were available by order

Sears Modern Homes Catalog 1908 4th Edition offering 30 models. MY BLOG MY FACEBOOK PAGE