A 1976 Split-Level in Greenbrier That Doesn't Photograph Like One
Most homes built in Greenbrier in the mid-1970s have the kitchen walled off from the rest of the main floor. That was the standard then, and it's still the standard on most of the comps you'll find within a few blocks of this one.
1519 W Raleigh Ct doesn't. The kitchen has been opened up — island, quartz counters, pendant lighting — with a clear sightline running through to the living space. That single difference is the entire argument for this listing, and it changes how the house needs to be photographed.
Shooting for sightlines, not for rooms
When a floor plan has been opened up, shooting each room in isolation actively works against the seller. You end up with a nice photo of a kitchen and a nice photo of a living room, and a buyer scrolling MLS has no idea the two connect.
So we shot through the openings instead. Wide frames that carry the eye from the island across to the seating area, so the layout reads before anyone gets to the description. On a street where nearly every other house from 1976 is compartmentalized, that's the thing worth proving in the first three photos.
The lower level has a brick fireplace with built-in shelving on both sides and windows on two walls — a combination that photographs well and, notably, doesn't exist in new construction at this price point.
What the drone photos do here
The Base package includes six drone photos, and on this property they earn their place.
From the ground, you can't tell that Raleigh Court is a cul-de-sac with eight homes on it. You also can't tell how dense the tree canopy is over this part of Arlington Heights — from above, the streets nearly disappear under it.
Both of those are real selling points and neither one is visible at eye level. That's usually the test for whether drone coverage is worth including: is there something true about this property that a person standing in the driveway simply cannot see?
Arlington Heights and the Greenbrier subdivision
Greenbrier sits in northwest Arlington Heights, feeding Greenbrier Elementary, Thomas Middle School and Buffalo Grove High School. The housing stock is largely mid-1970s, lots run around a quarter acre, and the streets are laid out with the curves and courts typical of that era of suburban development — which is part of why the canopy has grown in the way it has.
For buyers, the draw is straightforward: established trees, low-traffic streets, and a school assignment that holds its value. For sellers, the challenge is that most of the inventory looks similar on paper. Photography is where a house that's actually been updated separates from one that hasn't.
What was delivered
This was our Base package:
25 MLS-ready photos, six drone photos, and a floor plan, delivered within 24 to 48 hours of the shoot. That's the standard set for a single-family listing in Chicagoland, and for a property where the interior does the selling, it's usually the right call — no video needed when the sightlines carry the story on their own.
Listed by Magda Chwalek, Gen Z Realty.
Frequently asked questions
How much does real estate photography cost in Chicagoland? Our Base package starts at $200 and includes 25 MLS photos, 6 drone photos and a floor plan. The Plus package at $300 adds a property walkthrough and basic cinematic video. Our Pro package at $450 includes a full cinematic video.
How long does a real estate photo shoot take? Most shoots run one to two hours on site, depending on square footage and whether drone coverage is included.
How fast do you deliver photos and video? Standard turnaround is 24 to 48 hours for photos and 48 to 72 hours for video.
What areas do you serve? We work throughout Chicagoland, including Arlington Heights, Palatine, Buffalo Grove, Schaumburg, Roselle, Des Plaines, Park Ridge and the surrounding northwest suburbs.
Book a shoot in Arlington Heights
If you've got a listing in Greenbrier or anywhere in the northwest suburbs, we can be out this week.
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Related: Buyers Rank the Neighborhood Above Price. Your Listing Video Never Shows It. — why the drone shot of a tree canopy is doing more work than it looks like.