"Sears offered over 370 different house designs, shipping complete kits with pre-cut lumber and materials to be assembled by buyers or local builders." ~ Sears Archives, “Modern Homes”
Did You Know You Used to Be Able to Order an Entire House from a Catalog?
Imagine flipping through a Sears catalog in the early 1900s, not to pick out a new sofa, but to buy your entire house. From 1908 to 1942, Sears, Roebuck and Co. sold over 70,000 mail-order homes across the U.S. and Canada. Yes, an actual DIY house, delivered in a railroad boxcar like the world's largest IKEA project, but with way more at stake than an Allen wrench.
Sears offered more than 370 different house designs, ranging from charming cottages to grand colonials. And these weren’t rickety shacks; they came with modern luxuries like central heating, indoor plumbing, and even electricity (depending on how fancy you wanted to be). Buyers received around 25 tons of pre-cut lumber, nails, shingles, windows, and detailed instructions, all labeled for easy assembly. You (or, more likely, a very patient local builder) could put your house together in just a few weeks.
How Does That Compare to Homes Built Today?
If you tried this now, the HOA would probably have a meltdown. These days, homes are primarily built onsite by teams of specialized contractors, each handling a different aspect - framing, plumbing, electrical, HVAC. The process is more customizable but significantly slower and more expensive. Plus, between permit delays and material shortages, some new builds drag on longer than a season of your least favorite reality show.
Sears homes, by contrast, were designed for efficiency and affordability. The pre-cut materials meant minimal waste, and buyers got a quality home without the hassle of managing subcontractors. No waiting on the plumber who promised to show up "sometime next Tuesday" - it was alllll DIY, Baby.
Are Any of These Homes Still Standing?
Surprisingly, yes! While no official records exist on exactly how many Sears homes remain, enthusiasts have tracked down thousands across the U.S. They’ve held up remarkably well, thanks to solid materials and old-school craftsmanship.
In Colorado, locating Sears homes is trickier, since most were concentrated in the Midwest and East Coast. But given their widespread distribution, it's likely that a few unassuming houses tucked into Denver suburbs or mountain towns are actually historic mail-order homes. You might even be living in one and not know it. (If you find an instruction manual in the attic, let us know. I'm dying to see one for myself.)
Was This a Better Way to Build?
So, what do you think? Was the Sears model - a streamlined, cost-effective DIY home kit - the smarter approach? Or have we truly advanced with our modern, high-tech, highly regulated home-building process? Tough call. One thing is for sure: assembling a house from a kit sounds far more satisfying than assembling a dresser that’s missing half its screws.
