Introduction:

The decision has been made, you'd like to purchase a well-made doll's house at an affordable price. Just how do you choose? It is my hope that this guide will be a helpful reference to all dollhouse shoppers.

Doll's House Scales:

As most purchasers have seen in other eBay guides, there are many different scales of dollhouses. Let's talk about a few of them.

Playscale:
This is a larger sized dollhouse scale made for Barbies and other "play" dolls that young children enjoy. The furniture in these houses is usually made of plastic and/or metal and is sturdier so it can be played with for a good length of time before it deterioriates. Don't confuse all plastic furniture you see on eBay for barbie sized furniture. There are also vintage styles of plastic furniture like Renwal and Marx. Playscale houses are usually made of plastic, but some wood houses can be found as well.

1/12th Scale:
This is what is considered the "standard" scale for collectible doll's house furniture. Most adult collectors and builders work in this scale. The scale is 1" to 1' and is delicate but beautiful. Most furniture in this scale is wooden and there are a variety of options to choose from on eBay. There are many eBay artisans who make 1/12th scale dollhouse furniture and accessories. If you're looking for something you will more than likely find it, or find someone who will commission a piece for you! Most 1/12th scale houses are made of wood and come from a kit. We'll discuss kit types later.

1/24th Scale (Half Scale):
Half scale is also usually a collector's scale. It is 1/2 the size of 1/12th scale and houses are usually made of wood.

1/48th Scale (Quarter Scale):
Quarter scale is also usually a collector's scale. It is 1/2 the size of 1/24th scale and 1/4 the size of the standard, 1/12th, scale. Houses in this scale are also usually made of wood.

1/144th Scale (Doll's house for a Doll's house):
This scale is definitely for collector's only! These houses are in 1/144th scale - that's 1/12th of the standard 1/12th scale. A careful child could hold these types of houses but they are definitely NOT for play. These houses usually fit in the palm of one's hand and are extremely fragile. The houses are made from a variety of materials, the most popular being laser-cut wood. Beautiful and delicate, these houses are usually found with many bids and a higher price range (and rightfully so!).


144th Scale Dollhouse

Doll's House Kits:

Kits are great fun, if you have patience! Most kits are not to be undertaken lightly. There are several types of kits, and pretty much all of them have dozens, if not hundreds, of pieces. Let's review some of the more common types of kits available on eBay.


A Dura-Craft Kit

Greenleaf:
Greenleaf kits are made from luan, a low-quality 1/8th inch plywood. Although this wood is lightweight, it is also very fragile because of its thinness. These kits are somewhat sturdy when put together but they are also delicate in their own way. Each piece is precut in a stamp-like manner so it is punched out of a sheet of wood. The directions can be a bit confusing and the process of building a Greenleaf house either comes to you or doesn't! For me, it definitely DOESN'T. These need sanding, and a lot of it! The wood also tends to splinter if not pre-cut before popped out. Pieces are easily broken if you have a heavy hand.

Greenleafs also tend to go together in a "puzzle" type manner. They have tabs that insert into holes. Sometimes the cut isn't square and the holes don't quite fit the tabs, thus, more sanding ensues! The Greenleaf is good if you want a cheaper kit (they can usually be found in Auction style sales on eBay) and are not too picky about perfect realism. The one thing I find a major drag is the fact that the trim on most, if not all, Greenleaf houses is 1 dimensional and flat. It's punched out of a board and therefore any porch railings, finials or trimwork is not realistic, but is, instead, much like a paper doll's dress, flat.

Dura-Craft:
Duracraft kits are very similar to Greenleaf in structure except I find that their "tabs" are more hidden and the houses come together a bit better. The trimwork included is still flat. From the kits I have assembled, I have noticed that the edge trim is separate and not made of luan. This makes the houses a bit sturdier, as Greenleaf kits do not usually have edging. You might want to invest in a mitre box or a good eye, though, this trim is NOT pre-cut. I've also noticed that many times the shingles are pre-printed and that makes a great guideline for working with cedar shake shingles.

Artply:
They look great, right? They do, but they don't go together "squarely" and are made of, you guessed it, luan! The kits are pleasing when they are finished but I have noticed that sometimes the directions seem to be referring to some other kit that, well, doesn't exist! The picture on the front of the box is sometimes different to the product inside and I've also noticed that the dimensions of the rooms in the dollhouses are sometimes very, very odd.

Arrow:
I really looked forward to making an Arrow house from a vintage kit until I realized that they are no sturdier than any other luan kit. The cool thing about them is that the flooring and other "bits" of the house are sometimes pre-printed onto the wood! They aren't bad for their price, and the style of the houses isvery aesthetically pleasing. If only the kits could be made a bit sturdier. Give and take some quality for the pleasing vintage style of the houses.

Corona:
Corona are made by Greenleaf.

Real Good Toys:
Ahh, real Good Toys, one of my favourite kits to put together! Most of these are precut (if not all of them) and the pieces fit together well. They are easy to assemble if you have the time and patience to read the directions. I believe these are made of 3/8th inch ply which makes them a lot sturdier than a Greenleaf kit. Real Good Toys make a fine product and one is able to see that just by looking at the finished work. The houses are beautiful! If you've got time and patience for building and don't mind using the occasional nail, these are great to work with!

Assembled Doll's Houses:

If you prefer to buy a house that is already assembled, there are many options for you on eBay. Check through the "Houses" category in the Dollhouse Miniatures section and browse in your price range using eBay's Advanced Search Options. Don't be overwhelmed by high shipping costs, doll's houses are hard to package and usually are very big!


A Tin Doll's House

Tin Houses:
There are many vintage "tin" houses, but take care, these could be hazardous for child's play. These are very collectible and look cool, too! Many of these houses have lithographed scenery on their walls and exterior. Some even have working windows and doors.


The Orchid by Corona Concepts (A subsidiary of Greenleaf)

Wooden Houses:
One can get a good feel of the quality of the houses by reading the information about the kits listed above. Look for houses made of 3/8th or thicker ply if you intend to have children playing with the house. For collectors any thickness will work if you like the style of the house! The most beautifully constructed houses in my opinion are The House That Jack Built houses. These are so nice to look at and are suitable for play! Let your eye be the judge and if you are curious ask questions!


A Playscale Plastic House

Plastic Houses:
If you've got a tinier tot these are great to play with. The pieces usally fit well into the houses and some of the houses can be folded up. I've seen some very nice plastic barbie houses that have easy cleanup and hours of fun!

General Suggestions for Buying:

Here are some helpful hints I have learned the hard way. Please take them to heart when shopping for a doll's house or miniatures. I hope they help to save a lot of frustration!

Quality:
If you're buying a pre-made wooden doll's house be careful to look for an auction that has many clear photos. I've fallen into the trap of the poorly made dollhouse twice now. The first time, I bid on a house with only one photo. Big mistake! The house came to me and it was barely hanging on. Everything had to be disassembled and glued back together. The second time, I looked for an auction at a reasonable price with many photos. I found one, but failed to notice the large palm plant in every single photo. It was covering the cracked wall. The pieces of the house were also falling off and the seller had taped them on for the photos. I was highly disappointed to find the "beautiful" house described in the photos was really a mess of wood scraps and missing pieces. Luckily, this did not scare me, but it did show me what to look for in the future! Buyer beware, you could be in for a scare!

Ask questions and SAVE the photos on the auction. I've been fooled this way before, as well. The seller lists something that says "look at photos to see what you get" and then changes the outside linked photo after the auction's end. There is no guarantee you will get what is pictured! When the product arrives it's not quite what was there, or it's nothing similar at all! Save any answers to questions you ask. They may come in handy later. I'm not trying to discredit all sellers, there are many sellers who love minis and know what they are doing, but there is always the chance that you find one who doesn't. Be careful, check the feedback, check the feedback, and, oh yes, check the feedback!

One thing to look for in feedback is dollhouse miniature sales! If this person has collected miniatures or specializes in selling them they may be better off for you than someone who is unfamiliar with the quality of miniatures and describing them. Always get insurance, if it's not offered ask the seller if they would offer it for you. Dollhouses are usually delicate and smaller pieces may break during shipping. Insurance is always a comfort.

Shipping:
Buying assembled houses on eBay can be difficult for many reasons. Many sellers will only sell to someone who can pick up the house in person. If you're inside the USA you can see what kind of dilemma this poses. If you cannot find a house you like in your area, save the expense of gas and find a seller who ships their homes! Sometimes you find a great deal near you, always check within a reasonable radius for doll's houses.

Take heed to look for a seller that has positive feedback and experience in packaging miniatures. I have twice received dollhouse lots packaged in cereal boxes with no padding. Needless to say, many of the miniatures were broken and the seller went missing. Not that every seller will be this way, but there are many people on eBay trying to sell collectibles passed down to them who just aren't sure how to package these items.

Conclusion:

Enjoy shopping for a doll's house! If you have any doubts, don't buy! There are always a number of houses on eBay. If "that house" is calling you, bring it home to enjoy! If you have questions, ask!