The Home Crowd

In 1915, Sears began selling home kits by way of mail order from a specialty catalog. The homes were transported largely via railcar, with the average home filling two cars each. By 1925, Sears had sold 30,000 homes. Unfortunately, due to the great depression that hit a few years later, and it’s lingering economic effects, Sears’ sales suffered, and by 1940 had stopped selling homes. In these 15 years of operation though, Sears sold 75,000 homes across the country. Numbers which, any homebuilder today would be proud to boast.  The kit homes, were of good quality, very stylish, and most importantly, very affordable. The “Magnolia” model (pictured below) sold for $5,140 which adjusted for inflation from 1918 to today would cost approximately $80,000.

(click image to enlarge)

Now, keep in mind, that only covers the cost of your home kit, no labor, contractors, sub-contractors, interior designers, furnishings or the most atrocious of all costs nowadays….the land itself.  But after all is said and done, construction-wise, you’d still find yourself in a relatively affordable home.

Nowadays, the kit homes themselves are a piece of American history, and rightfully so, have developed a following among those who wish to live in their own collector’s item.  The construction had a solid feel, and from most accounts, the kit homes still standing today have stood the test of time well.  I’m not sure the same will be said of the pre-fab homes built over the last few decades that usually come in a couple pieces and are transported by a flatbed truck.

Makes ya wonder though, if the Great Depression never happened, would Sears be THE name in homebuiding today?  Maybe they’d have ventured into master-planned communities, urban infill projects, possibly entire Sears branded cities and infrastructure?

Sears Modern Home (via Architecture Coach)