Take a look at the history of Sears homes, ready-to-assemble houses available nearly 100 years ago in the Sears Roebuck catalog. In 1908, these kit homes were offered in 370 styles and ranged in price from $50 to $5000. Families who selected a Sears home saved 1/3 the price it would cost to buy an already assembled, or 'normal', house.