Before Amazon, There Was Sears, Roebuck & Co.

Many local residents are delighted to own a piece of American architectural ingenuity from the storied Sears, Roebuck and Co.

“The 1920s were roaring, the stock market was soaring, and R.B. Craddock ordered his Alexandria dream home from the Sears, Roebuck and Company catalog. His rare 1922 Arts-and-Crafts house at 2804 King Street has been lovingly preserved by [the only two owners] to live in this architectural gem.”

So began the 2019 listing notes by Corcoran McEnearney Suzanne and James Morrison for a charming, historical property that is often referred to as a “Sears Kit Home,” and is coveted by many architecture enthusiasts today, not just for its historical importance in the creative way it brought modern homebuilding to the masses but for an enduring legacy in the current resale market.

Side view of 2804 King Street, Alexandria. Note the diamond windowpanes – a classic Sears Modern Home detail. Photo courtesy James & Suzanne Morrison.

Interior of 2804 King Street, Alexandria showcases the diamond window pattern that is repeated in the built-in bookshelves dividing the living and dining rooms. And yes, the fireplace – including glass tiles – came in the kit! Photo courtesy Suzanne & James Morrison.

Sears, Roebuck & Co. sold its Sears Modern Home Program kits from 1908 to 1942 via its massively popular catalog, which at the time was delivered to one-fifth of American households. Over the years, buyers could select from more than 370 designs in a multitude of sizes and styles, with the most popular designs repeating each year and others being showcased just once. A 25-ton kit contained around 10,000 pieces of framing lumber, 20,000 cedar shakes, and nearly everything else a home might need could also be purchased to accompany the kit, including plumbing, lighting, fireplaces…even down to the doorknobs! They were shipped throughout the country by railcar, with most being delivered along the East Coast and Midatlantic and Midwest states where railway stops were plentiful. The Washington, DC area became a popular region for construction with more than 2,000 homes being built in the 40+ years the kits were available, many of which still exist today for buyers eager to own their own piece of Americana.

Cover of 1922 Sears Modern Home Catalog, courtesy of Wikipedia.

While Del Ray Alexandria is renowned for its collection of Sears homes, there are many other local neighborhoods where a few hundred of these eclectic homes can still be found. Agents Richard McGuire and Lisa Smith’s recent listing (currently under contract) in Arlington is just one of those finds. Built in 1931, this home features many of the original details found in classic Sears’ models, including rounded doors and archways and hardwood floors. McGuire noted that there are architectural surprises throughout the home, including a little cut-out in the dining room that served as the location for the home’s one and only telephone.

This listing at 912 S Quincy Street, Arlington is a 1930s Barringer model. Photo courtesy of Richard McGuire and Lisa L. Smith.

Like many Sears’ owners, residents over the years have made renovations to the home while still keeping the original character of the home. “They were designed so each room served a specific purpose, whereas today homes have a more open-concept approach,” Richard said. “It may be a little boxy by today’s standards but the home is just so well made.”

The Morrisons’ Alexandria listing was a combination of two kits built together: a main level and a second story, which made for an interesting back-of-the-house location for the stairwell, James noted. The property also came with a garage, and while they couldn’t verify that it was also a kit-build, the fact that the doors opened to the side like a carriage house rather than from top-to-bottom could be a sign it was from Sears.

As with many vintage and historic properties, there is room for debate about “provenance” and whether something qualifies as an “authentic” Sears Modern Home. There were many competitors in the kit home business, including Aladdin (1906-1981), the first company to offer mail-order homes; Gordon-Van Tine (1907-1947), which diversified and offered buyers mortgages; and Lustron (1948-50), which constructed homes out of porcelain laminated steel. As these companies went out of business, so did their archive of sales documentation. This leaves many owners searching through their own paperwork to determine which type of kit home might be theirs.

Agent Darlene Duffett recently discovered that her family’s home in the Rosemont neighborhood of Alexandria might not actually be a Sears kit home, even though when they bought their home on W. Alexandria Avenue, neighbors shared stories about it being a Sears home and surmised that there was a plaque in the basement that had since been covered up. The Duffetts have yet to find evidence of that and no documentation came with the sale that could solve the mystery. However, they can confirm that their garage was built by a Sears kit thanks to a plaque that was installed above a side door.

The plaque that certifies this little garage in Rosemont is from Sears Modern Home. Photos courtesy of Darlene Duffett.

Buyers who value the charm and vintage details of older homes are fortunate that this region has enough kit homes remaining to offer hope that one might come up for sale. If your goal is to own a Sears Modern Home or any other historic kit properties, connect with one of our Corcoran McEnearney agents to help deliver your own piece of history.