I live in what I'm sure is a kit home - probably not a Sears since it was built in 1943. It has plywood walls and squared off pine trim. Do these kit homes hold a special place in the property market? I know there are people who buy and restore these homes to how they were originaly but don't know how to contact an organization such as this. Any help on the subject would sure be appreciated. Thanks!

Hi. Your unidentified kit home needs first to be identified as a kit. There were quite a few companies active in the market from 1900 to the early 1980s depending on manufacturer. One resource that might help is the house plans directory at our sister site, Antique Home. It covers old houses from 1900 to 1960 and is not limited to the Arts & Crafts period. You might find your home listed there. If not, email a photo of your house so we can check some of our sources that are not published online.

Once identified as a kit house by a specific manufacturer, your home might have a slight edge as far as value is concerned, but ultimately local market forces and buyer preferences set the price.

Rikki

Built in 1943? Not many things were being built during the war.

However, I did meet one woman who said that she and her husband moved into their new Sears Home in 1946. I told her, "Well, that's interesting, but Sears actually stopped selling their kit homes in 1940."

She replied, "Oh, you don't understand. We bought it in 1939 and we actually finished it and moved in, in 1946!"

However, Sears homes did not have plywood walls.

Posting a picture might be the best way to help myself and others figure out what you have there.

Rose Thornton