Did Sears sell home building kits?
Sears Modern Homes were catalog and kit houses sold primarily through mail order by Sears, Roebuck and Co., an American retailer. Sears reported that more than 70,000 of these homes were sold in North America between 1908 and 1940.
Are kit houses still around?
Build-it-yourself ‘kit’ houses popularized by Sears endure in the Philly region. Sears barely exists as a retailer any more, but homeowners still adore the “kit” houses it fabricated and shipped across America from 1908 to 1940.
Are Sears homes valuable?
“It was really solidly built.” From 1908 to the 1940s, Sears, Roebuck sold an estimated 70,000 kit homes in about 370 different styles, from Colonials to bungalows. In the 1920s, prices ranged from about $600 to $6,000, which is roughly $8,400 to $84,000 in today’s dollars.
What were Sears houses called?
kit homes
From 1908 to 1940, the Sears Modern Homes Program offered complete mail-order houses to the would-be homeowner — what would come to be called “kit homes.” Customers could select from dozens of different models in Sears Modern Homes Catalog, order blueprints, send in a check, and a few weeks later everything they needed …
When were Sears kit homes sold?
From 1908 until 1940, Sears, Roebuck and Co. sold over 70,000 kit houses through their Modern Homes and Honor Bilt catalogs.
Are there any Sears houses still standing?
How Many Sears Houses Are Still Out There? Sears is estimated to have sold about 70,000 of their home building kits from 1908-1940 and it’s currently estimated that about 70% of the original Sears homes built from kits are still standing today.
What year did Sears quit selling houses?
According to the US Census, there were about 88.7 million people living in the United States. There were about 132 million people by the time Sears stopped selling Sears Modern Homes kits in 1940. Compare that to about 330 million people today.
How many Sears homes are left?
Sears Holdings Corp. The Magnolia home was one of the largest offered through the Sears catalog. Sears sold more than 70,000 mail-order homes between 1908 and 1940. Some enthusiasts estimate that about 70 percent of Sears houses are still standing today.
Who is the expert on Sears kit homes?
Rosemary Thornton, a recognized expert on Sears kit homes, offers several tips to verify a home’s Sears lineage. With so many of these homes sold, many still come up for sale.
How big is the house in the Sears catalog?
Historic house: Built in 1911, this Sears home sits on a large, corner lot in a historic district, surrounded by antebellum homes. Measuring in at a roomy 3,500 square feet, the four-bedroom home is ready for its new owner to take it into its next century. Horse haven: This 1932 catalog home sits on nearly 7 acres of fenced horse property.
How big is the Sears Home in Converse Heights?
Fully renovated in 2011, the home won the Moore Country Home Builders’ Association’s Excellence Award for the Best Historic Renovation. The renovation expanded the home’s footprint to four bedrooms, three bathrooms, and more than 2,000 square feet. Converse Heights: Built in 1925, this three-bedroom, Arts and Crafts–style home shines.
When was the Sears Home in Lexington KY built?
Livability in Lexington: Built in 1928 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this four-bedroom home has been meticulously maintained over the years. Located on a tree-lined street in a lovely, mature neighborhood, the property has had the same owner for 25 years.