Inside the Rise, Fall, and Evolution of Sears Catalog Homes
In the early twentieth century, the 10,000-plus web page Sears, Roebuck and Co. catalog served as the unique all-in-one market—that includes garments, toys, and even complete mail-order house kits.
These mail-order houses had been shipped instantly by practice, and regarded “modern” at the time. They included every part a home-owner would need to build their own sanctuary: precut wooden, nails, paint, and more. And for an further payment, the Sears catalog houses even included a extremely sought-after comfort of the time, an indoor toilet.
The thought was to offer households an accessible, reasonably priced strategy to trendy dwelling. Though, today, only a small quantity of these houses stay standing, with surviving models now belonging to a area of interest housing club.
Here, Realtor.com® dives into the rise and fall of the iconic Sears catalog home and explores what it’s wish to own a piece of architectural historical past in today’s real estate market.
What are the most distinctive parts of a Sears catalog home?
Sears catalog houses got here in many different styles and sizes, making it tough to pinpoint the actual fashion of these houses.
However, the houses are identifiable by their building supplies. The houses used precut wooden reasonably than stone, brick, or other frame-building supplies. Additionally, all building supplies had been numbered to match the unique instruction handbook. There are also hidden marks and stamps on {hardware} and flooring.
A Sears mail-order home in 1993. John Kelly/Shutterstock
Some of the most widespread architectural types of these houses had been Craftsman Bungalows with low-pitched rooflines, overhanging eaves, and entrance porches.
Other dominant designs included the American Foursquare with two tales, hipped roofs, and central dormer home windows, in addition to Colonial Revivals that includes symmetrical facades, columns, centered entrance doorways, and multipane home windows.
Sears, Roebuck and Co. as soon as supplied mail-order home kits, offering accessible, trendy dwelling. The Washington Post by way of Getty Images
When was the first Sears catalog home designed?
The first Sears catalog houses had been designed and launched in 1908 when the company issued its inaugural specialty housing catalog named “Book of Modern Homes and Building Plans.” The issue contained 22 initial designs, and the specialised guide expanded to 44 types.
The kits ranged from $360 to $2,890, and the first order, a “Modern Home No. 101,” was fulfilled that same 12 months, that includes basic gables, a entrance porch, and two tales.
The mail-order houses included detailed blueprints, precut and numbered items of lumber, flooring, and staircases, in addition to an instruction guide. Buyers would also obtain {hardware} and finishes, such as nails, screws, hinges, doorknobs, paint, varnish, and putty.
Advertisement for Sears, Roebuck and Co. to “Own Your Own Home.” Corbis/VCG by way of Getty Images
Depending on the fashion, exterior and inside parts would accompany the home. This might embody numerous home windows, doorways, roofing shingles, and millwork trim. Optional add-ons that people might buy had been fixtures like bathtubs, sinks, bathrooms, and cupboards.
Traditional methods such as plumbing, heating, and electrical energy weren’t included, however may very well be added as an upgrade for an extra payment. The customizable houses had been crafted for anybody with basic building expertise, however, building often took months to finish relying on the dimension of the home and intricateness of the design.
Sears ended the program in 1942 resulting from World War II materials shortages, the Great Depression’s mortgage defaults, and inside administrative restructuring of the company.
But, over the course of the project, the Sears catalog boasted more than 370 home designs and offered over 70,000 kits delivered by railway throughout the United States and Canada.
A relocated Sears, Roebuck and Co. trendy package home was embellished to resemble Twenties decor Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. USA TODAY Network by way of Reuters Connect
Where are the best locations to seek out Sears catalog houses?
While Sears catalog houses had been shipped by the U.S. and Canada, the largest focus of the design is present in Midwestern and East Coast states that are positioned close to outdated railway strains, such as New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Illinois, and Pennsylvania.
Specific suburbs the place many of these houses could be discovered embody Carlinville, IL; Elgin, IL; Cincinnati, OH; Pittsburgh, PA; Arlington, VA; and Montgomery County, MD.
How have Sears catalog houses modified over the years?
The most apparent change is that Sears catalog houses are no longer made, and the houses have transitioned from reasonably priced, mail-ordered package homes to historic, collector properties.
Many of the current houses have undergone vital renovations, such as increasing flooring plans, bettering insulation, and updating heating, plumbing, and electrical methods.
Depending on the dimension, location, and trendy upgrades, a simple Sears catalog build can promote for $150,000, while a more luxurious body can go for effectively over $1 million.
Sears, Roebuck and Co. package home at 271 Spring Avenue East in the Hampton Manor development Wednesday August 29, 2018, in East Greenbush, NY. Albany Times Union by way of Getty Ima
Why do people purchase Sears catalog houses?
Aside from their historic attraction, proudly owning a Sears catalog home is uncommon, which may make the design extraordinarily interesting to collectors.
The houses had been often constructed out of sturdy, stable supplies and got here in a selection of designs that matched nearly anybody’s preferences.
Purchasing a less-luxurious Sears catalog home is also a lot more reasonably priced than shopping for a conventional home, as the June 2026 median itemizing price in the U.S. sits at $430,000, according to Realtor.com® data.
However, current Sears houses that haven’t been up to date will require a lot of work, and if patrons want to increase the flooring plan or make other design adjustments, the building could be expensive due to the ageing infrastructure. Because these houses are historic, be ready for frequent upkeep.
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