How we help · For buyers and sellers
Moving up to a larger home in the Washington, DC area
The short answer
Moving up works best with one plan that covers both homes: what your current home is worth, what the next one will cost, and how to time the sale and the purchase. Chris Itteilag represents move-up clients on both sides across DC, Maryland and Virginia, so the strategy, the numbers and the negotiation stay in one set of hands.
Answers the question: How do I move up to a bigger house in the DC area?
What makes the move up tricky
You are a seller and a buyer at once. The value of your current home sets your budget for the next one, but the timing rarely lines up on its own. And the next home often sits in a different neighborhood, school district or jurisdiction, with more land, more systems and more to evaluate.
How Chris plans the move
Your equity, clearly
A pricing analysis of your current home, so the budget for the next one starts from a real number.
The right next neighborhood
Side-by-side comparisons of space, schools, commutes and value across DC, Maryland and Virginia, where Chris is licensed in all three.
Sequencing the two transactions
Options to discuss with you and your lender: selling first, buying first, contingencies, or more time in your current home after settlement.
Preparation that pays
A preparation plan for your current home, SERHANT. Studios photography and video, and global buyer exposure.
Evaluating a larger home
Land, terrain, systems and association documents reviewed with care, with introductions to inspectors and contractors from our home resource network.
The record
The proof is in the record
- $750M+in career sales
- 550+clients served
- $18Mtop sale, Fessenden House
- 20+years in DC, MD & VA
Chris was ranked the #1 SERHANT. Agent in Washington DC by volume by RealTrends Verified 2026.
Career highlights
Shown for range and local experience across the Capital Region; these highlights are not presented as examples of this specific situation. All career highlights →
Questions clients ask
Should I sell my house before buying a bigger one?
It depends on your finances, the market and how much certainty you need. Selling first gives you a firm budget but may require a short-term move; buying first secures the next home but may mean carrying two. Talk with your lender about options, and with an agent who can plan both sides. Chris Itteilag helps move-up clients weigh each path.
How do I know how much house I can afford when moving up?
Start with a realistic value for your current home and your expected proceeds after costs, then review financing with your lender. Chris Itteilag prepares a pricing analysis of your current home so your next budget rests on real numbers.
Can one agent handle my sale and my purchase?
Yes. Chris Itteilag represents clients on both sides of a move across DC, Maryland and Virginia, which keeps timing, pricing and negotiation coordinated, even when the two homes are in different jurisdictions.
General information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult your own attorney, tax advisor or lender about your situation.