Blog - Chen Liang, Keller Williams One Legacy Partners LLC

Visit Topeka…. Stay For a While…Raise a Family…You Will Love it Here!

March 12, 2020 By April Liang

I was honored to be apart of this photoshoot at Redbud Park in the NOTO Arts & Entertainment District for the Visit Topeka magazine.

The Visit Topeka magazine is an annual guide produced for visitors and community members to see all the wonderful things happening around the area.

Topeka is a place where you will feel right at home!

With a rich history and vibrant culture, there is always something to do! Whether you love nature, the arts, music, shopping, museums, or family activities….

and for me….it is a great place to raise a family. I love Topeka, and the community involvement! Visit Topeka, Stay for a while, Raise a Family….You will love it here too!

If you have more questions about Topeka, the local schools, neighborhoods, or real estate, send me a message 7854387874

Chen Liang, REALTOR, Keller Williams One Legacy Partners LLC

www.facebook.com/bizliang

chen@lianginternational.com

Downsizing Considerations: Things to know and do before you list!

October 30, 2019 By Noah Bailey

The nest is quiet… too quiet

Have you reached a point in your life where you are shouting in your home and instead of a witty response from your beloved kids all you hear is echo’s?

Then perhaps you have considered downsizing, and you’ve come to the right place. As a matter of fact our team has helped over /link40 families move this year alone!/link

Downsizing is a process that takes a bit of time, and as the old saying goes, the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, so better now than ever!

The first thing to consider is why you’re downsizing, are you downsizing because the kids moved out, have you gone through a recent life change, or to save money on utilities and maintenance?

Once you have figured out the why, its time to consider the how. How much smaller do you want your next home to be? Do you want a traditional home or a co-op/condo? How do these properties compare? That’s where our team comes in.

We can sit down with you and consider your options, compare prices on homes sold nearby, and plan where you want to go next, if it’s down the street or down on the Bayou, we will work with you to make sure you receive the best service possible.

After deciding where you want to go next, it’s time to take care of the stuff inside! This is generally considered the “hard part” of downsizing. But it can also be one of the most heartwarming. Some of the most common methods of getting rid of the extras are as follows

Give it away: This is especially true for family heirlooms, or if you have a large and bulky piece such as a piano it is possible to give it away to a school or church. Just make sure to call and ask!

Yard/Estate/Moving/Garage Sale: Don’t let the word “Estate” scare you off, you don’t have to be dead to have one! Just make sure that when you are selling that valuables you want to keep are securely locked away or removed from the location entirely, and if possible to have some family come and help with staffing the event to make sure no one walks off with any items unpaid, and reward them with some food and drink afterwards!

Donate it: Lots of organizations take donations and often will have large trucks to pickup the items no one buys, so if that China Cabinet wont budge, someone will take it!

After the stuff has been accounted for its time to coordinate moving the stuff you want to keep, bear in mind that measuring your current items is essential, as with downsizing you are moving to a smaller space, a California-King probably wont fit well in a 800 square foot house, for example. Keep this in mind as you look at new homes with smaller doorways and rooms.

Finally, once your downsized nest has been selected, you can begin moving in and making it feel like home with some of the old items you kept and begin to enjoy the low-to-no maintenance of your new home and the beginning of your golden years!

Article by Noah Bailey

Live Your Dreams: How a Family of 6 Achieved Their Dreams to Travel the World Full Time

October 4, 2019 By April Liang

Article By April Liang

” Have you ever sat in your world, you know the one you’ve created for yourself and like a movie montage, everything around you slows down and you get to see what is really happening around you? Only then to realize, what is perfect for practically everyone you know around you, no longer is where your heart lies? That was us. There was a strong sense of, “we aren’t supposed to be here. That our true path was yet to be discovered…” -Sam Griffin

Chen and I met Sam and Brandon over 4 years ago. We held a lot of similar beliefs about health and wellness. Sam and Brandon introduced us to their health and wellness company, Thrive by Le-Vel. The health and wellness journey they have been on is one of the major contributors to their ability to travel full time and live their dream..But How did they get there? and what was the process like? In today’s feature of Live Your Dreams, we show you how it all came to be.

Find out in their story below, how they overcame fear, and other challenges during the process of selling their home and transforming their lifestyle into a full time traveling family.

“Its been almost 2 months since my worldly dreams of traveling North America fulltime with my family have come to fruition and I wanted to give some props to the man that made it happen.

Have you ever sat in your world, you know the one you’ve created for yourself and like a movie montage, everything around you slows down and you get to see what is really happening around you? Only then to realize, what is perfect for practically everyone you know around you, no longer is where your heart lies? That was us. There was a strong sense of, we aren’t supposed to be here. That our true path is yet to be discovered. A random google search later and we figured out exactly where that next phase of life was supposed to be. That meant, our home needed to be blessed and released.

When it came to selling our home we had 2 obstacles. The first, and by the far hardest hurdle to cross was FEAR. We were selling our home to then move into a 5th wheel to travel North America with our 4 children. The thought of “what if” this doesn’t work out, we have NO where to come home to scared us. Not to mention societal pressures and judgements.

The second challenge, the easy one. Was getting our home photo ready to put on the market. That meant getting our small home projects done. Not an easy task. We hired a local business to overhaul our construction projects in 2 days and my husband and I went to crazy town cleaning and decluttering our home. I remember Chen questioning if we could really pull it off in 5 days. I mean, he had years of experience with clients taking their time to stage their homes, but April, his wife, knew our hearts and If we said we are gonna do something, it will be done. NO sleep was to be had but in 5 days, our house transformed.

Why did we choose Chen? Chen was an easy choice. Like most people, we had done some research for several months. We had visited with a few different agents who came highly recommended but after visiting with Chen, and growing a relationship with their family it became a no brainer. First and foremost, he was knowledgeable about the industry. He understood how the markets worked. He gave great advice, and had a clear strategy and plan in place. He didn’t baulk at our own ideas and stood behind our decisions as if they were his own. He educated on things so we could make final decisions that made sense for us! We were confident in his team and he explained EVERY step and gave us confidence stepping out into the market. His photographer did such an amazing job showing off our home we almost got cold feet! Haha. We had a full offer in 11 hours. We accepted in less then 27hrs. Within a month, we closed.

The entire process with Chen was seamless. We watched the buyers agent do things that made us all the more thankful for Chen and his transparency, education, and forethought through the process of selling our home. It kept our mind at ease and he was always 1 text message away. He helped us get all of our goals MET!

As we look back on this experience we just can’t stop thinking about how LUCKY we were and how greatful we are to have hired Chen and his team to help us. Our dreams of travel would have NEVER had happened, had we not hired his expertise. So many times, I could have seen missteps happen but Chen handled the field so effectively and efficiently, with such grace, that now, as we look back, we can only smile and appreciate his hard work and dedication to our family’s needs and goals. He was a huge part in getting us ready for full time and we are extremely grateful. Getting a card with our old home on the front to commemorate our time in the house was like the cherry on top. If you’re looking for excellent customer service, making a new friend, and getting the most from your realtor, look no further than Chen Liang and his amazing team. They help you with your dreams.”

–Sam Griffin

WOW! Congrats friends! You are an inspiration to all that know you!

That is an amazing story of how Sam and Brandon overcame their challenges and are now living their dream! We are grateful for the opportunity to be apart of their story! We wish them many blessings and prosperity along the way!

Sharing their story with you is important, because we want you to be as excited and happy as Sam and Brandon were about their experience. And we wanted you to know that no matter the dream, or challenge, we believe in you! And we know you can achieve your dreams too!

Our team specializes in working with you to achieve your home dreams by communicating with you how YOU want to be communicated with….text, email, call, Facebook messenger, you name it! We are here to provide you with the confidence and the information you need to know to make the best decision. You are always the decision maker for your real estate experience.

Whether you and your family plan to be ready to in 5 days or 5 months, our team can help you craft a custom plan, and achieve a smooth experience, with the upmost integrity in mind.

Beyond the process of buying or selling a home, we want to foster a relationship with your family and get to know you as well as invite you to events, such as… We hosted our first Ice Cream Social this year and it was a huge amount of fun! It wouldn’t be right without community, period. Which is why one of our core values is Family.

Come write your story with us….we are only a phone call, text, or facebook message away…

but we highly recommend you start with a quick discovery phone call with Chen. Schedule it on his calendar below

https://meetings.hubspot.com/chenliang/phoneconsult

Fun fall activities for you and your family, an hour (or less) away!

September 18, 2019 By Noah Bailey

Fall is a great time to spend with the family!

There are a number of events going on this season in and around the Topeka Area!

Festivals are a great way to get the family together before the weather becomes harsh for the winter

Here are a few that we’ll put direct links to in this article for further reading:

Activities:

Fall Visitors Guide for Topeka: https://visit.topekapartnership.com/events/festivals/#fall

Cider Days Festival of Topeka: http://ciderdaystopeka.com/

Maple Leaf Festival in Baldwin City: https://mapleleaffestival.com/

Pumpkin Patch Charts and Crafts Manhattan: https://www.pumpkinpatchartsandcrafts.com/

These are just a few of course there are tons of events everywhere so it’s nearly impossible to document them all! This is just a select few that we placed on here for your convenience.

Looking to move to Topeka, schedule an in-office or over-the-phone appointment with Chen on his calendar!

Interior and Exterior maintenance tips to keep your home healthy!

September 14, 2019 By Noah Bailey

Prepare for winter now with these great tips!

Below are some great tips to keep you up and running flawlessly this winter season! As according to the long-term forecasts, it’s going to be a snowy one! Here are some helpful tips to help you get on the right track

Interior:

Checking for drafts

One of the simplest ways to save money! Set a fan behind an exterior doorway and stand outside, feel any breeze? If so it might be time to clean up the trim around the door. Another way to check if a fan is not available is by looking for sunlight peeping through the sides of the door.

2. Clean up home appliances or winterize them if needed

Certain appliances may need winterizing such as summer-only AC units. Covering the condensers outside with tarps or some other type of covering or removing window based AC units entirely and storing them in the basement or garage is another great way to cut on costs in your home.

3. Check your foundation or basement for signs of moisture intrusion

Cracks in an unfinished basement or smelling mold in your finished basement are tell-tale signs water is getting inside! Make sure that you check for these in your basement before winter sets in fully and freezes water inside your home!

4. Cleaning and inspecting your fireplace (if you are lucky enough to have one!)

Hiring a chimney sweep once a year in the fall is a great way to make sure your fireplace is running smoothly. It can also help prevent fires and spot potential problems before they become a huge headache for your family!

5. Bug proofing and pest prevention

When winter comes all of nature will be clamoring away at your warm home. Checking for small gaps near ground of your home will make sure that an unwanted guest does not snuggle up with your pantry throughout the frigid months.

Exterior:

Cleaning out the garage

A great thing to start early on in the fall season to make sure you can store all of the summer toys and fun would be a big garage cleanout or garage sale! It makes getting rid of things easy and can yield a slight profit if done correctly.

2. Preparing the lawnmower/weed eater/summer car for spring

Now is the time to turn wrenches or take your machines into a professional to get service done since you will not be using them throughout the winter as well as making sure that they are operating great come next year

3. Checking drainage and terrain erosion

This is a very often overlooked but often most expensive damage done to a home. Surveying the soil around your home as well as gutters and drainage pipes to make sure all water near the home gets expelled as quickly and as efficiently as possible.

4. Inspecting trees

Another overlooked issue is trees with large branches looming over houses. Paying the tree trimming service a few hundred for removal will save you potentially thousands down the road in roof damage and price hikes to your homeowners insurance.

5. Removing hoses and turning off faucets

This one is probably the most well known but is often forgot in the lieu of things. Making sure that faucets are turned all the way off and hoses are removed from them will make sure everything is ready to go come springtime.

With the tips above, we’re hopeful that you’ll be able to enjoy your home all winter long with little to no hassle. Got real estate questions? Schedule an appointment with Chen today for all your real-estate needs by clicking here.

Ice Cream Social In The Park

August 29, 2019 By April Liang

By: April Liang

Chen & April Liang, with their team at The Liang Group, hosted their first annual “Ice Cream Social in the Park.”

Why did we host The Ice Cream Social?

“The Ice Cream Social was a fun way to say thank you to our family, friends, clients, & business partners for their continued support”

Our team had been brainstorming event ideas for a while. We wanted to host an event that would be fun and easy for families who would attend. We have stayed busy the last few years, raising 3 kids and growing our real estate business, and we have really missed out on a lot of fun social activities. It was important to us to have an opportunity to catch up with friends & past clients, while enjoying a beautiful Saturday in Topeka.

One day, when I was spending time with my family, the idea of an ice cream social popped into my head!

That’s it! Ice cream in the park! I knew it would be a blast for our family and your family too!

Families could drop by the party, at their convenience, with no pressure to dress up or pack for a long arduous activity with the kids.

As a mom, I am a big fan of events that are easy for us to attend. I think other mom’s feel the same way. Playing in the park, socializing, eating ice cream, and riding the carousel are perfect Saturday activities.

After some preparation and planning….We held our first Ice cream Social on Saturday August 24th from 11:30am-2pm. Everything went off without a hitch. We set up in the carousel room at Gage Park. Sheridan’s catered the ice cream. The kids had unlimited rides on the carousel, and played frisbee outside. Raffle items were donated by Kim Schimmel Inspires Photography, Advanced environmental, Streamline Property Inspections, Blues Moon, and Chen Liang.

I loved was seeing the kids laughing, playing on the slides & riding the carousel….all while the parents enjoyed relaxing and socializing.

I asked my son’s friend, George, what he thought of the party. He said, “My favorite thing was the carousel”

Then I asked my son what he liked about the party. He said, “My favorite thing was seeing George at the party, 2nd the carousel, 3rd the ice cream.”

Chen & I are blessed to know so many amazing families in the community. We appreciate the opportunity to see everyone at the party, catch up, and have fun. Thank you to everyone who attended!

You made our day bright and full of happiness.

Below are a few words about the event.

Craig Brady, “So much fun, always great to see Chen, April, and the kids! Thanks so very much for having us!”

Frank Pfeifer, “Had a great time hanging out today. Thank you for the invite.”

Anthony Ancheta, “Thanks for the ice cream and great conversation April Liang & Chen Liang! We greatly enjoyed ourselves!”

Carol Heimiller, “Thank you SO must for the invite. It was totally amazing 😊❤️”

Additionally, Chen and I want to say thank you to our team, event sponsors, and raffle donors who helped make this event amazing. We appreciate your support and trust! Shout out to our sponsors below!

Our team is excited to host the next ice cream social in the spring of 2020. This will be an annual event (possibly semi-annual?). If you are interested in attending or becoming a sponsor at our next event, please email me at theliangteam@gmail.com or text 7856403885

Thank you for your support:

Wheatland Inspections
Moore Plumbing
Streamline Property Inspections
Artzer Home Improvement
Ladson Consulting
Josh Perry, Envista Credit Union
Modern Dynamics Insurance
Rori Chapman, Loan Depot
Andrew Lindeman, Landmark National Bank
Free State Fence
Alpha Title
Topeka’s Generosity Network
Topeka Youth Project
Kim Schimmel Inspires Photography
Roger Dalhby, Advanced Environmental
Sheryl Blue, Blues Moon Professional Organization

See you next year!

–April Liang