Sears Kit Homes in Virginia:

My Mission to Find and Sell One

A little over 100 years ago, you could order a house from a catalog.

Between 1908 and 1940, Sears, Roebuck & Co. sold over 70,000 homes through their mail-order catalog. Buyers chose a floor plan, placed an order, and received everything needed to build their home by rail. Lumber, doors, windows, trim, hardware, nails, and even paint were included.

Many of those homes are still standing today.

Some are well known. Others have been remodeled so many times that their history has almost disappeared.

Why I’m Researching Sears Kit Homes

I’m a Realtor in Hampton Roads, and this project started with one simple question.

How many Sears Kit Homes are still hiding in our area?

That question turned into a mission.

I’ve been searching through real estate listing records, comparing homes to original Sears catalogs, reading historic publications, and researching neighborhoods one property at a time. Every confirmed home leads to another clue, and every clue sends me down another rabbit hole.

My goal is to document these homes, learn their stories, and share what I find along the way.

Why This Project Matters to Me

The more I researched Sears Kit Homes, the more fascinated I became.

Every home has a story, but these homes are different. They were ordered from a catalog, shipped across the country by rail, and built piece by piece over 100 years ago. Many are still standing today, often without their owners knowing the full history.

As a Realtor, I spend a lot of time helping people find the right home. This project has made me appreciate the stories behind those homes just as much.

It also gave me a goal.

I’d love to one day represent the sale of a Sears Kit Home.

How to Tell if Your Home Might Be a Sears Kit Home

Some things to look for include:

• The year the home was built
• The overall floor plan
• Window placement
• Roof shape
• Original millwork and trim
• Historic mortgage records
• Framing lumber stamps
• Old photographs and family records

Many Sears homes also resemble homes sold by other companies, which means research is often needed before reaching a conclusion.

Did You Receive a Letter From Me?

If you received a letter from me, your home caught my attention during my research.

That doesn’t necessarily mean your home is a Sears Kit Home.

It means I found characteristics that make it worth taking a closer look.

I’m always looking for more information. Old photographs, paperwork, family stories, blueprints, or even conversations with previous owners can all help piece together a home’s history.

Follow the Search

This website is home base for the project.

The real adventure is happening on social media.

I’ll be sharing house tours, research rabbit holes, homeowner stories, catalog comparisons, and every exciting discovery along the way. You’ll also get to see the homes that turn out not to be Sears houses. Sometimes those stories are just as interesting.

If you’d like to see where the search leads next, I’d love to have you follow along.

Instagram: @hayleelassman

TikTok: @hayleelassman

Have Information About a Historic Home?

I’d love to hear from you.

Whether you own a home that might have an interesting history, have old photographs to share, or simply want to learn more about Sears Kit Homes in Hampton Roads, feel free to reach out.

Every story helps preserve a little more of our local history.