SELLER
Position your property to qualified buyers and hold the line on terms all the way through closing.
Navigating your next move. Carrying your vision forward.VESSEL REALTY GROUP
One of these? You’re in the right place.
One of these? You’re in the right place.
One of these? You’re in the right place.
What matters depends on who you are.
BUYER
Source, evaluate, and negotiate the right asset — on and off market.
LANDLORD
Fill vacancies with credit-worthy tenants and structure leases that protect the value of the asset.
TENANT
Find a space that aids in your company’s growth — then negotiate a lease that protects you.
INVESTOR
Gather data such as rent rolls, cap rates, etc. that will help you evaluate a deal.
THE VESSEL STORY
Vessel Real Estate was born from a simple belief: Every business, business owner, investor, and vision matters. That belief is personal. When I first began looking for real estate for myself, I expected guidance. Instead, I often felt like a number in a transaction. I was not always treated with respect, and I was given little direction as I navigated the process for the first time. Rather than feeling supported, I was talked down to and made to feel small—as though being a woman meant I could not possibly understand the details, decisions, or complexities involved. Those experiences stayed with me. They showed me exactly what I never wanted another client to feel. Real estate can often feel transactional—focused on numbers, square footage, and the deal. We believe it should feel different. Every client deserves to feel heard, respected, valued, and confident that their goals are receiving the same level of attention and care as the transaction itself. No one should feel dismissed, intimidated, or made to feel as though they do not belong in the room. Vessel was created to bring a concierge, white-glove approach to commercial real estate—one where exceptional service is not reserved for the biggest deals or the largest companies. Whether you are leasing your first commercial space, acquiring an investment property, selling an asset, or positioning your business for its next chapter, you deserve thoughtful guidance, clear communication, and an advocate who genuinely understands where you are trying to go. We will build a relationship with the client that will last far past the deal. Our name, Vessel, represents that philosophy. A vessel carries something from where it is to where it is meant to be. In much the same way, we help carry our clients’ visions forward—with knowledge, care, confidence, and purpose. Our passion comes from a deep appreciation for culture, architecture, design, economic growth, and development—and the fascination of watching what was once nothing become something.
Vessel Real Estate was born from a simple belief: Every business, business owner, investor, and vision matters. That belief is personal. When I first began looking for real estate for myself, I expected guidance. Instead, I often felt like a number in a transaction. I was not always treated with respect, and I was given little direction as I navigated the process for the first time. Rather than feeling supported, I was talked down to and made to feel small—as though being a woman meant I could not possibly understand the details, decisions, or complexities involved. Those experiences stayed with me. They showed me exactly what I never wanted another client to feel. Real estate can often feel transactional—focused on numbers, square footage, and the deal. We believe it should feel different. Every client deserves to feel heard, respected, valued, and confident that their goals are receiving the same level of attention and care as the transaction itself. No one should feel dismissed, intimidated, or made to feel as though they do not belong in the room. Vessel was created to bring a concierge, white-glove approach to commercial real estate—one where exceptional service is not reserved for the biggest deals or the largest companies. Whether you are leasing your first commercial space, acquiring an investment property, selling an asset, or positioning your business for its next chapter, you deserve thoughtful guidance, clear communication, and an advocate who genuinely understands where you are trying to go. We will build a relationship with the client that will last far past the deal. Our name, Vessel, represents that philosophy. A vessel carries something from where it is to where it is meant to be. In much the same way, we help carry our clients’ visions forward—with knowledge, care, confidence, and purpose. Our passion comes from a deep appreciation for culture, architecture, design, economic growth, and development—and the fascination of watching what was once nothing become something.
Vessel Real Estate was born from a simple belief: Every business, business owner, investor, and vision matters. That belief is personal. When I first began looking for real estate for myself, I expected guidance. Instead, I often felt like a number in a transaction. I was not always treated with respect, and I was given little direction as I navigated the process for the first time. Rather than feeling supported, I was talked down to and made to feel small—as though being a woman meant I could not possibly understand the details, decisions, or complexities involved. Those experiences stayed with me. They showed me exactly what I never wanted another client to feel. Real estate can often feel transactional—focused on numbers, square footage, and the deal. We believe it should feel different. Every client deserves to feel heard, respected, valued, and confident that their goals are receiving the same level of attention and care as the transaction itself. No one should feel dismissed, intimidated, or made to feel as though they do not belong in the room. Vessel was created to bring a concierge, white-glove approach to commercial real estate—one where exceptional service is not reserved for the biggest deals or the largest companies. Whether you are leasing your first commercial space, acquiring an investment property, selling an asset, or positioning your business for its next chapter, you deserve thoughtful guidance, clear communication, and an advocate who genuinely understands where you are trying to go. We will build a relationship with the client that will last far past the deal. Our name, Vessel, represents that philosophy. A vessel carries something from where it is to where it is meant to be. In much the same way, we help carry our clients’ visions forward—with knowledge, care, confidence, and purpose. Our passion comes from a deep appreciation for culture, architecture, design, economic growth, and development—and the fascination of watching what was once nothing become something.
Alease Washington
Founder & Principal Broker
Founded Vessel to bring a concierge, white-glove approach to commercial real estate — one where exceptional service is not reserved for the largest deals. Works office, retail, industrial, flex and mixed-use property across Richmond and Central Virginia.
LaShawn Maloy
Executive Assistant
Keeps every engagement moving — scheduling, documentation and client communication from the first conversation through to closing.
“An empty building becomes a thriving business.
A vacant property becomes a destination. A neighborhood begins to transform.
An idea becomes an investment. A vision becomes a legacy.”
Alease Washington — Founder and Principal Broker
How we work
How we work
Four steps, and a broker that stays with you!
01
Brief
We start with what you are actually trying to do — the use, the budget, the timeline, and the constraints that will not move.
02
Search
We work the market on and off the record: listed inventory, owner relationships, and the conversations that never reach a portal.
03
Terms
Price is one line in a commercial contract. We negotiate the escalations, options, allowances, and exits that decide what the deal is worth later.
04
Close
Through due diligence, financing, and closing — and still reachable long after the paperwork is signed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions worth asking before you sign anything
If something is not covered here, or you would rather just talk it through, reach out directly.
What kind of commercial property do you work with?
Office, retail, industrial, flex, and mixed-use property across Richmond and Central Virginia. We work on buildings and commercial space rather than residential homes.
If you are not certain whether your situation fits, it is still worth a short conversation. We would rather point you to the right person than have you guess.
Do you represent tenants and buyers, or only owners?
Both. We act for tenants and buyers as often as we act for landlords and sellers, and the work is genuinely different on each side of the table.
What we will not do is sit quietly on both sides of the same transaction. Where a conflict could arise, you will hear about it from us first.
Why aren’t your listings published on this website?
A large share of commercial property in this market is transacted quietly, and much of what we work on belongs to other owners and is subject to confidentiality and licensing rules. A browsable list on this site would not honestly represent what is available.
Tell us what you are looking for and we will go and find it — including the properties that were never going to be advertised.
What areas do you serve?
Richmond and Central Virginia are home, and that is where our market knowledge is deepest — submarket by submarket rather than at a glance.
We do take work beyond the region where an existing client relationship calls for it.
How are your services paid for?
In most commercial transactions the brokerage fee is paid out of the deal, typically by the owner or landlord, and it is agreed in writing before any work begins.
Whatever the structure on your particular transaction, you will know how we are paid before you commit to anything.
I’ve only ever bought residential property. Is commercial very different?
Yes. Due diligence, financing, lease structures, and timelines all work differently, and commercial contracts are far less standardised than residential ones.
That difference is exactly why representation matters. We walk you through each stage rather than assume you already know it.
How do we get started?
Send a short note through the form on this page, or call directly. The first conversation is simply about understanding what you are trying to do.
There is no cost and no obligation attached to it, and you will get a straight answer about whether we are the right fit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions worth asking before you sign anything
If something is not covered here, or you would rather just talk it through, reach out directly.
What kind of commercial property do you work with?
Office, retail, industrial, flex, and mixed-use property across Richmond and Central Virginia. We work on buildings and commercial space rather than residential homes.
If you are not certain whether your situation fits, it is still worth a short conversation. We would rather point you to the right person than have you guess.
Do you represent tenants and buyers, or only owners?
Both. We act for tenants and buyers as often as we act for landlords and sellers, and the work is genuinely different on each side of the table.
What we will not do is sit quietly on both sides of the same transaction. Where a conflict could arise, you will hear about it from us first.
Why aren’t your listings published on this website?
A large share of commercial property in this market is transacted quietly, and much of what we work on belongs to other owners and is subject to confidentiality and licensing rules. A browsable list on this site would not honestly represent what is available.
Tell us what you are looking for and we will go and find it — including the properties that were never going to be advertised.
What areas do you serve?
Richmond and Central Virginia are home, and that is where our market knowledge is deepest — submarket by submarket rather than at a glance.
We do take work beyond the region where an existing client relationship calls for it.
How are your services paid for?
In most commercial transactions the brokerage fee is paid out of the deal, typically by the owner or landlord, and it is agreed in writing before any work begins.
Whatever the structure on your particular transaction, you will know how we are paid before you commit to anything.
I’ve only ever bought residential property. Is commercial very different?
Yes. Due diligence, financing, lease structures, and timelines all work differently, and commercial contracts are far less standardised than residential ones.
That difference is exactly why representation matters. We walk you through each stage rather than assume you already know it.
How do we get started?
Send a short note through the form on this page, or call directly. The first conversation is simply about understanding what you are trying to do.
There is no cost and no obligation attached to it, and you will get a straight answer about whether we are the right fit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions worth asking before you sign anything
If something is not covered here, or you would rather just talk it through, reach out directly.
What kind of commercial property do you work with?
Office, retail, industrial, flex, and mixed-use property across Richmond and Central Virginia. We work on buildings and commercial space rather than residential homes.
If you are not certain whether your situation fits, it is still worth a short conversation. We would rather point you to the right person than have you guess.
Do you represent tenants and buyers, or only owners?
Both. We act for tenants and buyers as often as we act for landlords and sellers, and the work is genuinely different on each side of the table.
What we will not do is sit quietly on both sides of the same transaction. Where a conflict could arise, you will hear about it from us first.
Why aren’t your listings published on this website?
A large share of commercial property in this market is transacted quietly, and much of what we work on belongs to other owners and is subject to confidentiality and licensing rules. A browsable list on this site would not honestly represent what is available.
Tell us what you are looking for and we will go and find it — including the properties that were never going to be advertised.
What areas do you serve?
Richmond and Central Virginia are home, and that is where our market knowledge is deepest — submarket by submarket rather than at a glance.
We do take work beyond the region where an existing client relationship calls for it.
How are your services paid for?
In most commercial transactions the brokerage fee is paid out of the deal, typically by the owner or landlord, and it is agreed in writing before any work begins.
Whatever the structure on your particular transaction, you will know how we are paid before you commit to anything.
I’ve only ever bought residential property. Is commercial very different?
Yes. Due diligence, financing, lease structures, and timelines all work differently, and commercial contracts are far less standardised than residential ones.
That difference is exactly why representation matters. We walk you through each stage rather than assume you already know it.
How do we get started?
Send a short note through the form on this page, or call directly. The first conversation is simply about understanding what you are trying to do.
There is no cost and no obligation attached to it, and you will get a straight answer about whether we are the right fit.
Contact
Get in touch
Tell us what you are looking for — or what you are looking to move. You will hear back within one business day.
Mon – Fri, 8 AM – 5 PM EST
Response within one business day
Meetings by appointment
Tell us the brief and we will go looking