How we help · For sellers and buyers
Selling your home privately in Washington, DC, Maryland or Virginia
The short answer
To sell privately in Washington, DC, Maryland or Virginia, work with an agent who can reach qualified buyers discreetly through agent and client networks, and who knows the MLS and brokerage rules that apply. Chris Itteilag runs discreet sales as a core part of his practice, and he can move a home to a full public launch whenever that serves you better.
Answers the question: How do I sell my home privately in Washington, DC?
What sellers are really asking for
Sellers who ask about a private sale usually want one of a few things: privacy for themselves and their family, control over who walks through the home, the chance to test a price quietly, or a sale without a public days-on-market history. Each of those goals calls for a slightly different plan.
The trade-off is real. Fewer buyers see a private listing, which can mean less competition. Your agent’s job is to weigh privacy against exposure honestly, and to tell you when a public launch would serve you better.
How Chris runs a discreet sale
Rules first
Before anything is shared, Chris explains how current MLS and brokerage rules, including the Clear Cooperation Policy, apply to your home and your plan.
A quiet, qualified audience
Your home is introduced through Chris’s relationships with top agents, clients and advisors built over 20+ years, and through the SERHANT. global agent network, rather than through public advertising.
Privacy in the details
Showings by appointment for qualified buyers, limited information shared in writing, and confidentiality agreements where appropriate.
Pricing you can defend
A pricing analysis that compares a private offer with what a public launch might realistically produce, so you decide with real numbers.
A path to public, whenever it serves you
Whenever a wider audience serves you better, the same plan moves to a full launch with SERHANT. Studios media and global reach.
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
Can I sell my house without listing it publicly in DC?
Yes, in many cases. A home can be offered privately to buyers through agent and client networks, but MLS and brokerage rules, including the Clear Cooperation Policy, govern when a home that is marketed publicly must be shared on the MLS and what the seller signs. Chris Itteilag reviews how current rules apply before any marketing begins.
Do private sales get lower prices?
It depends on your goals. Private sales reach fewer buyers, which can reduce competition, but sellers often choose them for privacy and control, and motivated buyers sometimes pay well for early access. The key is to compare any private offer with what a public launch might realistically achieve.
Who should consider an off-market sale?
Owners who value privacy, such as executives, diplomats and public figures, and sellers who want to test a price quietly, control who tours the home or avoid a public days-on-market history. Chris Itteilag helps each seller weigh those goals against the benefits of broad exposure.
Can buyers get access to off-market homes through Chris Itteilag?
Yes. Buyers who share precise criteria and are ready to act, with proof of funds or pre-approval, can hear about private opportunities through Chris’s relationships across DC, Maryland and Virginia and the SERHANT. agent network.
General information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult your own attorney, tax advisor or lender about your situation.