When Did Sears Sell Houses

Sears Catalog Homes (sold as Sears Modern Homes) were ready-to-assemble houses sold through mail order by Sears Roebuck and Company, an American retailer. Over 100,000 of these were sold in North America between 1908 and 1940.

What years did Sears sell houses?

Sears Modern Homes were catalog and kit houses sold primarily through mail order by Sears, Roebuck and Co., an American retailer. From 1908 to 1940, more than 70,000 of these houses were sold in North America, by the company’s count.

Are there any Sears homes 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.

How much did Sears homes cost?

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.

When did Sears sell Craftsman homes?

From 1908 to 1940, Chicago-based Sears sold between 70,000 to 75,000 homes—”from Craftsman to Cape Cods, they offered a custom home at budgets and sizes that could accommodate any size family,” according to Popular Mechanics—which were sent via train car and set up as far afield as Florida, California, and even Alaska.

Where were Sears homes manufactured?

Sears sold an estimated 60-70,000 homes from 1908 to 1940. A set of 12 building plans titled “Sears Modern Homes” with a 1941 date has been discovered, and some of these were built in Elyria, Ohio.

How do I know if my house is a Sears house?

The nine easy signs follow: Look for stamped lumber in the basement or attic. Look for shipping labels. Check house design using a book with good quality photos and original catalog images. Look in the attic and basement for any paperwork (original blueprints, letters, etc). Courthouse records.

When did Sears and Roebuck change names?

1893: The founding of a retail giant After selling the first business, Sears moves to Chicago in 1892 and establishes a second mail-order company, renaming it Sears, Roebuck & Co. in 1893.

Is Sears Roebuck still in business?

It once operated more than 3,500 locations across the U.S. under its namesake Sears brand and Kmart. Roughly 700 are still in business and it hopes to keep a portion open through this holiday season.

What makes a home Craftsman style?

The common features of the Craftsman style include low-pitched gable (triangular) roofs, overhanging eaves with exposed rafters and beams, heavy, tapered columns, patterned window panes and a covered front porch. Craftsman house exteriors emphasize harmony with surrounding nature.

Why did Sears go out of business?

Walmart began to challenge Sears for the U.S. retail crown as early as the late 1980s, and after hitting its peak stock price in 2007, Sears started rapidly losing market share. The company moved to shutter stores and save cash, but the plan negatively affected its public perception and took a toll on its brand.

How long did it take to build a Sears home?

(Sears) helped build American neighborhoods as we know them today. Sears kit homes were an easy way for members of the middle class to realize their dreams of homeownership. Once purchased by catalog, the building materials were shipped in railroad cars and fully erected in as little as 90 days.

Who designed Craftsman homes?

William Morris, an English reformer and designer inspired by the art critic John Ruskin, was one of the founding members of the Arts and Crafts movement, which sparked the American Craftsman and bungalow styles of architecture.

What happened to Sears?

During this time various Sears stores in the United States were shuttered, and in October 2018 Sears Holdings filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. In February 2019 a federal judge approved the sale of the holding company to Lampert’s hedge fund, ESL Investments, for $5.2 billion.

How did Sears fail?

As stores fell further into disrepair they couldn’t generate enough to finance their own store upgrades leading to a negative investment cycle which generates lower and lower sales and less money to invest over time. Edward Lampert, Sears’ former Chairman and CEO is credited with much of this lack of investment.

How many Sears houses were built?

“It was a well-known and largely trusted name.” The Sears Archives have the number of kit homes shipped at 70,000 to 75,000. But some researchers say there could have been as many 100,000, noting that Sears disposed of the housing program’s records in the 1940s.

Do I live in a Sears home?

If you find a home similar to yours and the web site provides the name of the home model, then look for it in a Sears home catalog. If you find a house like yours in a Sears Home catalog, check out the floor plan. If it is a two story house, check out the floor plans for both floors.

Were Sears homes sold in Canada?

“The largest American company involved in the business, Sears, did not sell catalogue houses in Canada.” Sears never mentioned sales to Canada in any of the Modern Homes catalogs. However, it would be straightforward for Sears to ship a kit home by railroad to Canada from their mill in Cairo, Illinois.

How many Sears stores are left in 2021?

Today there are only 21 full-line Sears stores left in the mainland United States, and two more in Puerto Rico, according to the store locator on the Sears website, once recent closings are eliminated.

When was Sears at its peak?

Sears reached its pinnacle in the 1970s. In 1974, Sears completed the 110-story Sears Tower in Chicago, which became the world’s tallest building, a title it took from the former World Trade Center towers in New York.

Where did Sears and Roebuck start?

Chicago, IL.