Here's a little history:
At the beginning of the 20th century, a person was able to pick up a handy Sears Roebuck Mail-Order Catalog and order everything from table linens to houses. That's right - actual houses, operated by Sears' "Modern Homes" division. They are now often referred to as "kit houses," as everything needed to build the house, from framing lumber to nails to paint, was included in the kit. Overall, Sears designed over 400 plans/kits for sale during this time! Sears was not the first company to sell "kit" houses, but over time, the Sears name has become synonymous with kit homes. As it turns out, the concept of modern, pre-fab houses is about a century old!
Below are several "before" images of a kit house remodel in Johnson City. Though it has not been verified, the owner (as do I) kindly refers to the house as "The Sears House."
As you can tell from the photos, this house is in need of some attention. I will send out updates as this house goes through its transformation process.
