History
Heather started her career as a residential appraiser 28 years ago, converting to commercial real estate over 18 years ago, mostly in the Richmond, Virginia region. In 2010 she earned the MAI and SRA designations from the Appraisal Institute. As an appraiser, she has specialized in various forms of retail, office, land, multifamily, and specialty-use properties. She has also performed market commercial rent analysis, marketability and feasibility studies, and various consulting assignments. To date, she has completed over 1,500 commercial appraisals and over 4,000 residential appraisals. She recently also earned her ASA-RP accreditation for real property valuation from the American Society of Appraisers and is working towards her ASA-GC (going concern) accreditation. In 2024 Heather earned her ARA from ASFMRA.
In 2017 she earned the coveted CCIM, Certified Commercial Investment Manager designation from the CCIM Institute. Heather holds a Master’s Degree in Real Estate Valuation from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Master's in Business Administration from Old Dominion University. She teaches in the real estate department at VCU as an adjunct faculty member. Her education also includes extensive classes from the Appraisal Institute in various income valuation areas, litigation, going concern, and specialized topics. Heather has spoken before many groups, including most recently speaking at the 2019 National Association of Realtors conference. She served as the 2020 Mid-Atlantic CCIM chapter president. In 2020 Heather was appointed by the governor of Virginia to the Virginia Real Estate Appraiser’s Board for a three-year term. In 2024 she served as Chair for the Commercial Economic Forum for the 2023 National Association of Realtors conference and is the 2025 Vice Chair for the Commercial Leadership Forum.
Heather is very involved with the Appraisal Institute and is currently a member of the National Board of Directors and is the current Chair for Region V. Other positions in the past include include a national Appraisal Institute Journal Editorial board member, Diversity Panel member, Professional Standard and Guidance Committee member, AI Relief Foundation member, and the Virginia Commonwealth Chapter of the Appraisal Institute's 2018 President and Chairman of the Board for Appraisal Institute Holdings.
Heather is the Past President of the Richmond Women’s Council of Realtors, along with serving on committees for RAR, VAR and NAR. She is involved with a number of other non-profit groups, including the former Lee District Director of Juniors for the General Federation of Women’s Clubs and the Richmond SPCA Fur Ball.
Heather’s husband, Ryder Mull, joined the firm in 2020 and serves as Vice President. Coming from a corporate background, his experience in over 20 years of district restaurant management has helped him in appraisals, especially in restaurant equipment and profitability studies. Ryder also is a licensed commercial sales agent, and a licensed appraiser trainee in the state of Virginia, working towards his Certified General license.
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principal
Heather Placer, MAI, SRA, CCIM
Education
Virginia Commonwealth University
Masters of Science, Real Estate Valuation, 2007
Old Dominion University
MBA, Management, 2001
BSBA, Management, 1999
Designations
• Appraisal Institute: MAI, SRA
CCIM Institute, CCIM
American Society of Appraisers, ASA-RP
Activities & Affiliations
• Appraisal Institute:
President, Virginia Commonwealth Chapter, 2018
National Board of Directors, 2020-2024
CCIM:
Mid Atlantic Chapter President, 2020
Regional Vice President, Mid Atlantic Region, 2022
NAR (National Association of Realtors)
Vice Chair, Commercial Economic Forum, 2023
Member, Commercial Committee
Member, Valuation Committee (Commercial)
Virginia Association of Realtors
Chair, Economic Advisory Council, 2021-2022
Women’s Council of Realtors, Richmond, 2019 President
Member, Virginia Real Estate Appraiser Board, 2020-2024