Inside the Rise, Fall, and Evolution of Sears Catalog Homes

In the early 20th century, the 10,000-plus page Sears, Roebuck and Co.catalog served as the original all-in-one marketplace—featuring clothes, toys, and even complete mail-order house kits.These mail-order homes were shipped directly by train, and considered “modern” at the time.

They included everything a homeowner would need to build their own sanctuary: precut wood, nails, paint, and more.And for an extra fee, the Sears catalog homes even included a highly sought-after convenience of the time, an indoor bathroom.The idea was to offer families an accessible, affordable way to modern living.

Though, today, only a small number of these homes remain standing, with surviving models now belonging to a niche housing club.Here, Realtor.com dives into the rise and fall of the iconic Sears catalog home and explores what it’s like to own a piece of architectural history in today’s real estate market.Sears catalog homes came in many different shapes and sizes, making it difficult to pinpoint the exact style of these homes.However, the homes are identifiable through their building materials.The homes used precut wood rather than stone, brick, or other frame-building materials.

Additionally, all building materials were numbered to match the original instruction manual.There are also hidden marks and stamps on hardware and flooring.Some of the most common architectural styles of these homes were Craftsman Bungalows with low-pitched rooflines, overhanging eaves, and front porches.​Other dominant designs included the American Foursquare with two stories, hipped roofs, and central dormer windows, as well as Colonial Revivals featuring symmetrical facades, columns, centered front doors, and multipane windows.The first Sears catalog homes were designed and released 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 specialized book ...