Laura Calvert
I would recommend Barbara Merrill without hesitation to anyone wanting to buy or sell a home in the Coachella Valley area. Barbara recently sold my mother`s house in record time - we went into escrow within 5 days and closed within the month. Because my brother and I were helping our mom with her move, Barbara had to work closely with all three of us and she did this seamlessly and with great consideration for our situation. Barbara is professional and extremely knowledgeable. She is an expert on buying/selling in the Indian Ridge community, and that knowledge was extremely beneficial for us as we chose our selling price and accepted an offer. Barbara was always available during the whole process and was extremely easy to communicate with in all ways: in person, on the phone, through texting, and through email. I would have thought that we were her only client but came to find out that she had closed 4 other home sales within the time that we worked together! Unbelievable! As well as being an amazing realtor, Barbara is a gem of a human - warm, kind, considerate, and funny. She has the perfect demeanor for helping clients get through the stress of buying or selling a home. We enjoyed the whole process of working with Barbara and as I said above, I recommend her whole-heartedly.
Wanda Opheim
I reached out to Barbara Merrill in the fall of 2021 with our interest in purchasing a home in Indian Ridge, based upon a friend’s recommendation (can there be anything better!). I am so glad that I did. Barbara was pro-active and by early 2022 with Barbara’s expertise, we purchased a great home in Indian Ridge. Barbara provides exceptional service and truly does go above and beyond. She is always responsive and is extremely knowledgeable. I trusted Barbara throughout the process and was not disappointed. She was very helpful in arranging appointments at the house prior to closing. In addition, she has provided information on designers, house sitters and other resources – complete concierge service! I feel very fortunate to have had Barbara Merrill’s professional service for the purchase of our Desert Home and appreciate all she did for us. Thank you!
Nancy Taylor
Standing Ovation for Barbara Merrill! Barbara has just successfully sold my home at Indian Ridge Country Club. From our first " interview " regarding listing, marketing and sale to the closing of my home, I never once doubted that I was in the best professional hands as she guided this very successful transaction. To be noted ~ There were " hoops " to be jumped through as my home is owned by a Trust. Barbara interacted with the Trust Officers with patience and expertise. Her positive attitude gave me confidence during stressful times when decisions were being made on my behalf. From the minute she was given approval to list my home, Barbara was always available to connect either by phone call, text or stopping by the house. Her interior design sense was illustrated when she " staged " my home knowing exactly what to highlight and what to remove for a more welcoming look to prospective buyers. Barbara kept me appraised of all interactions with potential buyers many of which she made herself available for even though she was not required to be on premise with the buyer`s agent. This was an added bonus as she wanted to be sure to highlight features that she knows are important sales features within a home such as mine. Highlight ~ My home sold in 18 hours after listing/ over listing price / no contingencies ! Barbara continued to be available to assist me with all the next, required steps until closing. Honestly, I have sold many homes and working with Barbara was a joy . If you are looking for a dedicated , " hands on " caring and knowledgeable agent, you have found your match with Barbara Merrill.
Sandy Dawson
What can I say about Barbara? A lot!
In the past 5 years, I have had 3 buying/selling experiences with Barbara. In every single one, she has been the consummate professional. When you are her client, she is there for you 24/7. Yes, early mornings and late evenings. She is knowledgeable, she responds to your every question no matter how trivial. She is patient. She knows Indian Ridge inside out. She knows the market. She walks you through the process step by step. The devil is in the details and she is ‘detail’ oriented. I would never hesitate to recommend Barbara. She is the ‘best’ of the BEST.
Mona Hale & Chris Barclay
A global pandemic is not the most ideal time to purchase a house! However, with Barbara as our realtor, she ensured everything went smoothly and went above and beyond to satisfy all of our requests, even in these challenging circumstances. Her genuine and caring personality came through from the first time we met with her. From her prompt responses, positive relationships with vendors, and first-hand knowledge of the Indian Ridge community; Barbara delivered concierge realtor services! Barbara’s timely communications kept us apprised from offer to escrow to close. We can’t thank you enough for your time, talents and patience as we navigated the purchase of our beautiful home in the desert! Thank you Barbara!!
Don & Judy Ellis
When we realized that we were going to put our house on the market in Indian Ridge, you immediately came to mind as the perfect agent to represent us!
Friends of ours in Indian Ridge had previously communicated with us as to your efficiency, knowledge and professionalism in marketing homes in Indian Ridge. We noted especially that you were cognizant of the house values in this community. The first call to you and our first professional visit only verified that we had made the correct choice in choosing you as our real estate expert. Immediately you had pictures taken of the house, created an inventory of house items to take or leave along with a brochure that was quickly and beautifully put together. Utilizing your outstanding marketing and networking skills, you achieved the sale of this house before it was even on the market. The entire escrow was seamlessly and skillfully handled. What a magnificent experience for us! We would recommend you as the most diligent, polished and experienced agent that one could hire!
Thank you for selling our beautiful home and achieving a sale price that exceeded our expectations!
Gratefully,
Don and Judith Ellis
Doug Ruygrok
Dear Barbara, I am writing to thank you and express my appreciation for you and the job you did on finding and selling me my new home. Since you were the listing agent, some suggested I seek my own agent as the purchaser of the home. However, from the moment I met with you I felt secure that your professionalism was capable of serving the interests of both the buyer and seller. Throughout our transaction, you fairly and honestly represented both of us. Although it turned out I did not require the involvement of a lender, you were helpful in advising me on the various funding needed to complete the transaction. Also, your selection of the escrow company, inspectors and appraiser could not have been better. Thank you for guiding me through this process. I found the various communications and timelines which you provided, simplified my end of it and kept me on track. Finally, allow me to also say that I genuinely enjoyed working with you on a personal level. Your sense of humor and steady manner are the perfect compliment to your thorough knowledge of the purchase process, the Indian Ridge development and the real estate market in general. Thanks to you, I couldn’t be happier with my new home.
Sandy Petersen
In regards to the realty services provided by Barbara Merrill during my home purchase, I am at a loss for words! I have not had many real estate transactions over the years, but enough to have experienced the failings of lazy or unmotivated agents. I was able to immediately recognize true talent. Barb was referred to me by a friend at IRCC. Since then, I have overheard at least a dozen more ‘Barbara referrals’ by friends and neighbors for anyone needing a realtor. And it became easy to see why. Barbara handled both sides of my transaction, which made me a little nervous at first. I couldn’t have been more wrong. With Barbara as the middleman, my relationship with my seller could not have been more cordial, fair, and simply put, a pleasure. We closed on the 30th day as planned, without a single hiccup. Once I had the keys, Barb provided me with lists of vetted handymen and landscapers, repair and renovation professionals, even health and personal services. She provided a list of utilities with phone numbers and dates to call to be sure I didn’t end up without lights or air conditioning! She invited me to a few IRCC events and in-home get togethers so I could get a jumpstart meeting new friends. The easiest move ever into a wonderful community knowing I have a new friend who is so smart and helps with any and everything!
Michael and Marcia Berk
During the Pandemic of 2021, buying a house in Indian Ridge was a nightmare. While we were looking, there were never more than 3 or 4 houses on the market and we bid on each of them to no avail. Our realtor, Barbara Merrill showed us everything there was to see, even ones not yet on the market. She sent emails to every resident who had the model we were looking for and she found us some great houses that we offered on but eventually fell through because the sellers couldn’t find anything else to buy.
We finally bought a house with a view that was outstanding but a house that had to be torn down to the studs.
Barbara was with us every step of the way helping us identify a great decorator that shared our vision. She helped with the contract process and finding vendors. She knows everyone and hooked us up with neighbors, vendors et al. She truly made a rigorous project much easier. We highly recommend Barbara for your real estate needs.
Bob & Jane Wyker
Barbara has represented us in both buying and selling homes. She is smart, highly experienced, effective, detail oriented, and personable. Barbara gave us excellent guidance and actually made the transactions pleasurable. We offer our highest recommendation.
Dave & Elaine Crown
We are pleased to recommend Barbara Merrill as an excellent choice for your realtor Barbara sold our house in Indian Ridge at full asking price in a limited time frame.
She worked tirelessly to get the job done. We were out of the country at the time but Barbara took charge & suggested some inexpensive upgrades to the interior of the house to help sell it & she handled all the details. We give her all the credit for an efficient job well done!
Chris & Trang Longpre
We had only been looking for a desert home for a few weeks, and noticed the beautiful community of Indian Ridge Country Club. Wanting a peak inside, we contacted Barbara on a Sunday morning about a home she had listed within. She happily agreed to meet us there on short notice, and we were really impressed with her professional and detailed presentation of the home. She had excellent background information, detailed handouts, and educated us on special traits of homes inside Indian Ridge. When we asked about maybe getting lunch at the club to check out the facilities, she quickly got on the phone and arranged for a facilities tour and lunch for us! This was on a Sunday, in the middle of the off season. After seeing the pools, spa, exercise room & tennis courts, we enjoyed a delicious lunch at the clubhouse. Thanks to Barbara’s enthusiasm & knowledge of Indian Ridge, we knew we wanted to be members.Throughout the transaction, Barbara was in constant communication, and helped us quickly get into escrow on our beautiful new home! As we received the keys, she also had a ready list of local service providers to help us get up and running quickly! Thank you Barbara!
Jimmy & Dana Olmes
Barbara, Dana and I would like to thank you for all your help in closing escrow on our new home in Indian Ridge. Buying a new home does not come without its challenges, but you did a great job of helping us navigate our way through the process and being readily available to answer questions and to meet us on a moments notice. It was invaluable having someone with your knowledge and relationships with the HOA and golf superintendent to help us finalize our patio expansion plans. We are looking to enjoying our new home in Indian Ridge and look forward to hooking up at one of the socials.
Mark & Kim Lyman
Thank you for your amazing help in the purchase of our new condo at Indian Ridge CC. We truly appreciate your professional and energetic approach in finding and purchasing our new condo, followed up by the immediate listing and sale of our old condo. Wow - it was “fast and furious” but you were up to the challenge and kept everything organized and on track for the quick closings on both properties. Thank you again for helping pull this all together - we highly recommend your services to other buyers and/or sellers of real estate in Palm Desert. Sincerely - Mark & Kim Lyman
Adam Young
Working with Barbara was over the top in many ways. Her expertise, knowledge of the real estate market, and understanding of what buyers and seller needs were was exceptional. She was quick on things that needed to be handled from start to finish and done quickly. I truly feel she would be an asset to anyone whom is considering selling their home.
Katie & Trey
We can`t recommend Barbara enough! We were able to purchase our home sight unseen, all virtually, with Barbara`s hardwork and guidance. She`s extremely prompt and very thorough, two things you always want from a Realtor, especially in this volatile housing market. I`m so grateful we were referred to Barbara, we love our new home and would absolutely work with Barbara again!
Ken & Lauren Lewis
It is with great pleasure that we give our realtor, Barbara Merrill the highest recommendation possible for her excellent handling of our recent real estate purchase. Truthfully speaking & after many real estate transactions over the past 50 plus years, Barbara is perhaps the ‘Most’ thorough, organized & efficient person we have ever worked with. We give her our highest praise & thanks. Sincerely, Ken & Lauren Lewis
Ron & Joan Young
Barbara was a pleasure to work with!
She is a true professional and very knowledgeable on the market.
Always a quick response for any questions we had as well as making sure we understood what was needed to close the sale, every step of the way. Highly recommend!
Lani & Michael Kessler
It is our pleasure to recommend Barbara Merrill for all of your real estate needs. Purchasing our home from out of state, Barb made this a seamless and stressless experience. Regardless of the time of day or night (we were working with a time difference), she consistently and immediately responded to our inquiries. Barb went above and beyond our expectations -- from coordinating vendors to making the time to meet them (at THEIR convenience, not hers!), we never felt it was an imposition -- Barb made it all so easy! While we know there are SO many details that went into this process, Barb made it effortless by being so calm, understanding, responsive, timely, professional, knowledgeable, caring and kind!
Thanks Barb, we appreciate you so very much!
Vic & Shannon Cistulli
Barbara Merrill is one of the most hardworking and conscientious realtors I have worked with in recent years. She was easy to communicate with, immediately responded to questions and concerns. She was diligent in keeping the transaction moving forward in a timely manner. It is evident that for Barbara real estate is not just a hobby or side-line it is a serious and important business career.
Paul & Ingrid Aucoin
We had an excellent experience with Barbara in buying our first home in the Desert. Barbara provided clear advice on navigating buying a US home as a Canadian. We purchased the home remotely. Barbara answered all our questions through phone, text, email and Facetime. She was always available. No detail was too small for her to handle. She went above and beyond, including having some landscaping done prior to us moving in. Her many contacts for handling other details, related to HOAs, legal, handyman fixups, and maintenance while we were away, were all very reassuring. We highly recommend Barbara.
David & Gail Cortelyou
The best decision we made relative to selling our Indian Ridge home was selecting Barbara Merrill as our sales agent. She assisted us in preparing our house for showing which looked at our house from a buyers perspective and simplified our décor. She was also very positive about the sales process and gave us feedback after each showing. She arranged for all the showings and was present whenever anyone entered our home. In short, Barbara provided a “Conscierge” type service so we were relieved of worrying about the “details”. Whenever we encountered an obstacle she would seem to know just how to overcome and solve the issue. We couldn`t be happier with the service Barbara provided us and would highly recommend her to anyone contemplating selling their home.
Ron & Ann Gluck
I had met Barbara and had spoken to her several times about Indian Ridge and she was more than happy to take the time and answer my questions. I had my property listed with another agent and I was just not getting the results. I hired Barbara because I knew she was active in the community (Lived there 20 years) and was knowledgeable and had many contacts and had sold many homes. Within a week of listing with Barbara, I was getting much more activity and many more showings. She also knows what buyers are looking for and I took her advice along the way. She was always updating me on the progress and what was going on. She sold my house all cash with 2 week close. Barbara is extremely professional and I would highly recommend her if you are thinking of buying or selling. Thanks Barb!
Victoria Hayes
It is with heartfelt gratitude that I recommend Barbara Merrill, without reservation, as an outstanding, thoughtful, helpful, dedicated and very hard working real estate agent. She had the listing of my neighbors house, and at their urging, I switched from our on-site realty office and listed with her. Barbara’s professionalism, market knowledge, staging capability and photography skills were evident right away. My home was not listed until she thought it was in the shape potential buyers wanted to see. The change was good as suddenly I had buyers looking at my home ! After every showing I received immediate feedback, often both verbally and via email. Communication is critical in the process and Barbara is always at the end of her phone. Her expertise was critical once the offer was accepted as the escrow process demands various documents, inspections, forms etc. I truly think the deal would not have closed as quickly and seamlessly as it did if she had not been at my side shepherding the entire transaction. I began the listing as her client and I am delighted to now call her my friend ! Bravo!!
Randy & Geneil Roberts
When we decided to sell our house in Indian Ridge, we knew Barbara Merrill was the real estate professional for the job. No one knows the community better. Her price suggestion was accurate and beyond what we imagined! Within a short time Barbara had our home professionally photographed and a marketing blitz underway. After showing our home to several qualified buyers, we received offers that led to a sale within days! We absolutely recommend Barbara to buy or sell a home for you.
Dianne Hall
I have had the wonderful pleasure to have Barbara Merrill as my realtor not just once, but twice. Barbara worked with me for hours in the purchase of my home and then again with the sale of my home in Indian Ridge. Barbara is a realtor that goes BEYOND the call of duty - she ensured my house was perfect for showing and did not miss one detail. Her professional pictures and quality of her presentation of my home was exceptional. Not only did she sell my home - she sold it for full price in six days. Barbara and I started our relationship as client/realtor and quickly evolved into a dear, trustworthy friendship. Barbara is definitely the “Indian Ridge Realtor” who doesn’t just meet your needs and expectations, she excels.
Reg and Charlene Quiring
We had the pleasure of having Barbara Merrill as our real estate agent this spring. Barbara is warm and personable, and really goes the extra mile for her clients. She knows the market, has excellent advice for both the buyer and seller and has their best interest in mind. She sold our place in one day, and got the top dollar for us. She had great advise on how to set up our home and yard to show for best impact. We would highly recommend her and had such a great seller experience!
Debbie Lundahl & John Heath
We had talked to Barbara a few years back about renting a home in Palm Desert, so we were on her mailing list. Lo and Behold….the PERFECT home showed up in our email one morning. Barbara was the listing agent so we called her immediately! We knew this house would go fast and Barbara had already been highly recommended to us by close friends. We decided on the spot to use her as our agent as well. Barbara brokered a deal THAT afternoon. We signed an offer to purchase based on a 24-hour contingency. It was perfect. Barbara lives in our community, so she is especially passionate about providing the absolute best service to her future neighbors. Barbara kept us informed through every step of the purchase process. She is organized and is a clear and strong communicator. Barbara ALWAYS responded immediately to calls and texts, which was VERY important to us. We have every confidence that post Covid - Barbara will be considered one of desert friends.
Len & Jan Gelfand
It was a pleasure working with Barbara. She was professional, expedient, offered suggestions, and gave us feedback after each showing ... but its results that count.....and she sold our home within weeks of listing with her. She is a real "GO GETTER".
Shaun & Rinda Hillis
When selling our home in Palm Desert we initially listed with the on-site sales office for our community. After eight months and only nine showings and NO offers we made the decision to switch and go with Barbra based on a friends recommendation. Within the first three days of our house being listed we had three offers. We got full asking price and closed in 30 days. From photography to staging, Barbra knows how to market and close the deal! If you want your home sold there’s only one choice in the valley go with Barbra.
Mary Kay Sommers
Barbara Merrill is a class act! She recently helped me find my dream home at Indian Ridge Country Club. She came highly recommended and she lived up to her excellent reputation. Barbara has lived at Indian Ridge for years so she is extremely knowledgeable about the homes and the community itself. She patiently showed me multiple homes and helped me determine which models I preferred. Then she found a perfect house and arranged for me to be the first person to see it. She helped me make an offer and she got it accepted that day! Because I was out of town Barbara took care of arranging the inspections and making sure repairs were completed. She was on top of the transaction throughout the entire escrow period and made sure that everyone was meeting their deadlines so that the closing went smoothly. I am thrilled with my new home. Barbara was encouraging and positive throughout the entire process. She is truly an outstanding professional and I am happy to recommend her for any real estate needs.
Karen & Greg Genoway
Barbara has been the best real estate agent we have ever dealt with.
Greg and I decided to sell our home after we left the desert. We didn’t know who to use, so we spoke to friends that had just sold their home and they recommended calling Barbara. It was the best phone call we ever made. From our first conversation, until the closing of escrow, Barbara was always there to walk us through each stage and all aspects of selling a home. We were very fortunate to have Barbara list and sell our home in one day. She is extremely professional, honest, pleasant to deal with, so knowledgeable about the market, and returned our calls and emails immediately. Selling a home can be a stressful time, but with Barbara she made the process stress less, even with everything being done long distance. We haven’t meet Barbara yet but we look forward to the day we can say thank you in person. We would highly recommend Barbara to anyone who wants to buy or sell a home in the desert.
Bob & Debbie Kalof
When we started looking at Indian Ridge Country Club as our permanent residence, we connected with Barbara Merrill to help us find our new home. We found out quickly how well connected and knowledgeable Barbara is. We wanted a two story home with a view. At the time, there were no homes that we liked available. Barbara offered to call all the two story owners at Indian Ridge to see if they would sell and she did just that. After a number of investigations and looking at multiple properties, we finally found what we wanted. Barbara helped us navigate the buying process with recommendations from inspectors to escrow companies. We would highly recommend Barbara as a great real estate agent who really knows her job. We count Barbara as not only a skilled real estate agent but also as a personal friend.
Marshall & Judy Dahlstrom
Barbara Merrill was our first choice when we recently decided it was time to sell our home in Indian Ridge Country Club. It was a good decision as we learned what a full service Real Estate Broker is really like. From lovely staging to helpful hints we were able to sell our condo. Barbara made the home look so inviting we almost decided to stay. She was very pleasant, upbeat and professional in all her dealings with us making the sale process very easy. Thanks for being the best.
Judy & Gordon Paterson
Gordon and I decided to sell our home after leaving the desert during the Covid exodus. I had heard about Barbara, and that she had a great reputation. We called her to explore the idea of listing. She went over and checked out our home, and came back with pricing , ideas, and an action plan. Within 24 hours she had booked the Photographer, and was out buying accessories for the photo shoot. Within 5 days she had the listing up and running. It sold over the next 4 days! Her advice was invaluable in the negotiations. Everything was done long distance, without mishap. During the escrow period she looked after all the details of inspections, repairs, and coordination of manpower. Even though we have never met in person, she became a confidante, and the goto person for our sale and moving experience. I would highly recommend her to anyone wanting to sell their home.
John Swain & Marsha Mercant
My husband and I began working with Barbara while we were still living on the east coast. We weren’t positive when we were going to move to the desert, but Barbara never wavered in her enthusiasm to help us find the right place. When we finally put feet on the ground, she patiently squired us through home after home so we could solidify the type of house we wanted. Once we found the right place her assistance in helping us formulate our bid, find the right inspector, and guide us through the escrow process was invaluable. After escrow closed Barbara continued to be our go-to for every imaginable piece of information. From finding an exceptional handyman, to an air conditioner specialist, to learning everything we needed to know about the country club we joined. Her wealth of knowledge is boundless! We loved working with Barbara so much we recommended her to several other friends who are house hunting in the Palm Springs/Palm Desert area. They also sing her praises!
Pat & Judy Bonnett
Barbara Merrill is the BEST Broker we’ve ever dealt with & we have moved a lot in the past!!
Reasons we would highly recommend her:
1) Always available for questions to help you through the process.
2) Gets the answers fast if she doesn’t know the answers! She usually has the answers already.
3) Great referrals for help with moving in or out with names & numbers of all the right people to help you get things done.
Doug & Angie Cairns
Hi Barbara, We enjoyed our experience working with you for many reasons. We would heartily recommend you and would use you again. We were very happy with your deep knowledge of Indian Ridge, your responsiveness to our questions and issues, your network with service providers, renters, mortgage brokers, etc., and your understanding and patience as we took a long time to decide on our eventual purchase. Now we are delighted with our new home. Thank you!
Jane Darling & Doug Spani
Our introduction to Barbara by our close friends was a blessing. We have worked with many realtors over the years in the US and Canada who have not come close to Barbara`s professionalism. Smart, always available, kind, helpful, friendly, well versed in all aspects of buying, and most importantly honest. I told Barbara she was the best and she is. Give her a call, you won`t regret it.
Tom & Judy Douglas
We listed our home with Barbara and were delighted when it sold the first week. Barbara is professional, very organized and was always available for any questions we had. Her attention to detail is commendable. She kept us up to date through the closing process and sent us lists with contacts numbers of what to do and when to do it, including updating utilities. We have purchased and sold many homes over the years. We can sincerely say that Barbara Merrill went above and beyond our expectations. We recommend her highly to anyone looking to buy or sell a home.
Kathleen May
I heard numerous times from friends and neighbors what a terrific professional Barbara was long before I ever considered selling my home in Indian Ridge. When I decided to list my house, there wasn’t any doubt in my mind who I would go with. Barbara is a true professional and made the process manageable for me. Moving is one of life’s biggest stressors and as a widow, frankly, I was very frightened. Barbara practically held my hand the entire time, even helping me stage the house, organize the garage, arranging for charitable pickups of my discards, etc., etc. Her advice was always honest and kind and she was remarkably patient with me. I had many difficult decisions to make but Barbara would present me with the information and then step back and let me digest it as I requested. I would and then get back to her knowing she was always right and she was. I feel so lucky that I chose Barbara as my real estate agent and would recommend her a million percent to anyone buying a home in the Desert.
Paul & Gerri Hinkes
Sold in eight days!! What more can one say? Barbara was fantastic. She helped "stage" the house for listing, she brought the buyers, and she arranged every detail from appraisal to carpet cleaning. She took care of everything! This was a situation where Barbara represented both buyer and seller, and she was fair and honest with both parties. We had a wonderful experience with Barbara, and recommend her to everyone!
Joel & Barbara Renbaum
We just completed a purchase of a home in Indian Ridge Country Club, and Barbara Merrill was our realtor. We had met many realtors while visiting open houses in the desert over several years, but Barbara stood out among them all. Barbara was personable, professional, assertive without being aggressive, and seemed to truly listen to what our needs were. She was extremely efficient, and responsive, returning our calls and e-mails quite promptly. In addition, she was a delightful, energetic, positive and friendly person to work with. We fell in love with her immediately! She showed us several homes in our price range, some updated, some not. She patiently went over each detail of each home, and made it all relatable to us and our circumstances. She guided us gently through each stage of the purchase, which sometimes, can be stressful to people unaccustomed to the legal requirements of banks and lenders. In this case, though, we felt as if we had a friend as well as a realtor, and one who knew what to do, how to do it, and who could recommend people to assist us, if she couldn`t. Once the deal was accomplished, she did not abandon us. She recommended people to help us--whether it was a handyman, pest control company, hair salon--whatever the case might be. She sent lists of people to contact, in what order, so that the transition into the new home would be easy. Living in the area, and specifically in Indian Ridge, she really could give us insight as to what the desert life would look like once we moved there. All the while, she was was pleasant, outgoing, positive, a great listener, and a great communicator. We weren`t able to be in the desert for the closing of the property. Barbara handled every aspect of that, too, down to sending us a video of the clean and spotless home. She took the keys for us, and we just felt as though we were in good hands during the whole process; it was as if she were a trusted member of our family. Thank you, Barbara for all your help, your suggestions, your friendliness, charm, and most importantly, your expertise. We can`t wait to be your neighbor, and would recommend you to anyone who wants to purchase a home in the desert.
Bob & Joyce Whinery
Barbara is very professional, knows her business, and really understands Indian Ridge. She has fabulous home videos and pictures. She is a tireless worker and keeps her clients well informed. She never gives up.
A very good choice!
Dianne Hall
We met Barbara last year at an Indian Ridge open house. We immediately connected with Barbara, as her knowledge of real estate in Indian Ridge is second to none. She is a homeowner and lives in Indian Ridge for over 18 years. There is not a question she could not answer, a person she doesn’t know in the area and always was extremely helpful in introducing us to contractors, friends and parties. It took us several months to find the right property in Indian Ridge and the difference which sets Barbara apart from other realtors is that she kept in touch. She would update us on current listings, sales, events at the Club and just to say hello. Over the process of looking for a home Barbara became more than a realtor, she became a dear friend and we will enjoy her company for years to come. If you are currently working with a realtor, or are looking for a realtor, I would completely recommend working with Barbara. She is thorough, completely honest and walks you through the entire process of purchasing a property, escrow and enjoying your new life at Indian Ridge.
Dianne Hall
Calgary, Alberta
Sam Gerome & Phyllis Dennison
Barb, Words are not enough to thank you for your assistance as our agent in the purchase of our new home at Indian Ridge Country Club. Your expertise and your personality make you one of the best agents in the business. After not going through a home sale or purchase in more than 40 years we felt it would be overwhelming, but you made it fearless. We are delighted to have a new friend and excited to be your neighbor. For those interested in purchasing or selling a home BARBARA MERRILL SHOULD BE YOUR GO TO!! THANKS AGAIN - SAM & PHYLLIS
David & Sarah Laffey
We just closed on the purchase of our home at Indian Ridge Country Club and the whole process from start to finish could not have gone smoother thanks to our good fortune of being represented by Barbara Merrill. We first met Barbara at an open house that we wandered into and were so impressed with her that we took her card as we knew when we got more serious about buying she was the person we wanted to work with. We reached back out to her a few months ago and our experience was second to none. She spent a couple of days with us showing us a wide range of the available inventory at Indian Ridge, including a couple of houses that weren’t even technically on the market, one of which we made an offer on. She directed us seemlessly through the process and was on top of every detail. This was invaluable to us as we live in the Northeast. Barbara attended to every detail, from arranging and being present for inspections, introducing us to a great designer for renovations, ensuring we had all information for setting up utilities, among other things - she made the process so easy that it didn’t feel like we were managing from 3000 miles away. This purchase was entirely stress free given Barbara’s involvement. She truly does provide exceptional concierge level services far, far beyond what we have experienced with other real estate agents. Beyond the real estate transaction, Barbara ensured that we felt welcomed into the community. She brought us as her guest to the Club on multiple occasions and introduced us to many members and as a result we have already begun to forge some friendships (including with Barbara!) We would highly recommend Barbara to anyone thinking about making a purchase in the Desert.
Jim & Pat Tyng
We have been in a unique position recently to compare the sales style and performance of a number of real estate agents as we simultaneously sold and bought properties in different locations. Barbara Merrill certainly stands out as one of the best. We were lucky to meet Barbara at an open house at Indian Ridge Country Club. While that particular house wasn’t the one for us, we decided on the spot that Barbara was the agent we wanted to work with. She’s a master of information about the pluses and minuses of various homes, their floor plans and locations, and the overall “vibe” of the surrounding community. She asks the right questions in order to match buyers with the right options. Once we selected and made an offer on a new home, Barbara guided us through every step of escrow professionally and efficiently. We had the further advantage of observing Barbara in another situation when we introduced her to friends who were also considering Indian Ridge. Their goals were different from ours, and their search was longer and more challenging. Barbara demonstrated unfailing energy and enthusiasm throughout their process, and was able to help them reach a satisfying decision as well.
Mick & Lynette Tranbarger
Coachella’s finest Realtor!!! We have worked with Barbara for the past two years looking for the perfect home for us. She has been extremely patient with the pickiest of buyers like us. She has an incredible knack of listening to our want list and carving out visionary ideas as well as masterfully opening our eyes to new possibilities that we would not have considered. Barbara should be the SINGLE SOURCE FOR INDIAN RIDGE realtors because her background and knowledge of the property is second to none. Barbara has the unique ability to put herself in your shoes and find the perfect home for any customer. If you use another realtor you are using the “B” team.
Chris Sommers/Susan Blase
We first met Barb at an open house at Indian Ridge about a year ago. She immediately impressed us with her knowledge of both the Indian Ridge community and the desert housing market as a whole. What initially started as a slight flirtation with the idea of buying a house and Barb showing us beautiful property after beautiful property, soon evolved into Barb negotiating on our behalf to get an amazing price on our new home. Over the past year, Barb has gone above and beyond what one would expect in a realtor. She is easy to work with, prompt and never rattled, and always around to answer any of our questions. But most of all, she is an honest, good person who we now consider our friend.
Paul & Colleen Simon
Barbara recently helped us to sell our home in Palm Valley Country Club. We were impressed by her outstanding marketing plan which included a video tour and professional photos of the property, on site sales materials and open houses. The most important sales tool was Barbara herself! Her unflagging energy combined with her expertise brought our home, one of many on the market, to the forefront and resulted in a quick sale. We highly recommend Barbara as we have benefited from her professionalism in both selling and purchasing a home. Paul and Colleen
Dave & Diane G
Barbara Merrill goes above and beyond the call to duty as a realtor. Our house had been up for sale for a long time, and when Barbara got involved as a realtor, she brought a great deal of energy and enthusiasm to representing us as Sellers. When work needed to be done to take care of small or large repair items, she had the contacts to get the work done quickly and at reasonable prices. As Canadians we were not familiar with all the regulations governing the many aspects of selling a home in California. Barbara was always there to answer our questions promptly and effectively. She guided us through the process every step of the way. She is very professional, knowledgeable, and considerate of her clients needs and wants. But, above all, it was her positive energy which drew us to her. She believed in our home, and saw what we saw in it, and was able to communicate that to potential buyers. She got the job done, and we were happy she was there with us throughout the process.
Craig Meyer
I had the distinct pleasure to work with Barbara in the sale of an Indian Ridge condominium on behalf of a family trust. Barbara is a real "pro"... no one knows the Indian Ridge market better or how to market a property in the project better than her. She came highly recommended and she performed beautifully. Her attention to every detail really made the difference in achieving the results we had hoped for. She earned every penny of her commission. I would recommend her unequivocally!!!
Sandy Dawson & Barry Lapointe
Kelowna, British Columbia
Barbara became our realtor by chance. We had no idea that she was the Best of the Best, but she proved it over and over! Without her, we wouldn’t own a piece of sunshine in Palm Desert. She is patient (we looked at 30+ places), she is on top of the market, she is tenacious, she is organized, she listens and she seems to know exactly what you should be looking at. She is there 24-7 and she follows up on every detail. Barbara went above and beyond when escrow was closing and we were not there. The best part, she did it all with a ‘smile’!
Arlene M. Crowe
Barbara Merrill’s record reflects her success as a sales woman. Barbara Merrill is the consummate realtor. She sets high standards for herself and works tirelessly to meet those standards. She is knowledgeable about the community she serves, has extensive education and training, and she listens intently when her clients express their real estate needs and desires. Her record reflects her success as a sales woman. I have known Barbara for many years as a friend and, when I was ready to sell my home, she served as my realtor. She was proactive in marketing my home and when necessary, explained to me the changing market and how I could benefit by initiating strategy changes. I know firsthand of her integrity, credibility and style. Without hesitation I recommend Barbara Merrill to assist with real estate needs.
Barry & Jane Finlayson
Hi Barbara, We want to thank you for your assistance in buying a house in Palm Desert. As non-residents we were completely unfamiliar with the local process and documentation required for the transaction. Your depth of knowledge of the Palm Desert real estate market and the process, together with the check-lists that you provided, guided us through the process and kept us on track to complete the transaction in a timely manner without any problems. We are extremely happy with the outcome of the transaction.
Judy and John Cooper
We are Judy and John Cooper from Chicago. We would like to share our experience with our realtor, Barbara Merrill, with prospective homebuyers in the Palm Springs area. Barbara represented us in our recent home purchase in Indian Ridge, Palm Desert. Throughout the process she shared her extensive knowledge of the area as well as her thoughts on desert life. Her most outstanding attribute was her communication skill, rare in many realtors. Barbara kept us informed as to the steps that were upcoming, what we should do next, and if there was a bump in the road she handled it smoothly. This made a potentially stressful experience pleasant and fun. Also, Barbara has a wonderful personality that comes through in all she does and we are thrilled to have her as a friend and neighbor. If we invest in more real estate or if someone asks us for the name of a great realtor, Barbara is the agent we would recommend without reservation.
Luis and Sharon Ochoa
Barbara Merrill represented us in our recent purchase of a condominium home in Indian Ridge Country Club. We were very impressed with her ability to respond quickly to our messages, even during her vacation. She was a good mediator and problem solver, addressing our questions and concerns within a few hours. We were able to get the information we needed about Indian Ridge Country Club from Barbara. Since she lives in the same community, she knows it well and was ready to provide a resource list for home improvement projects, maintenance assistance and utilities. We were particularly impressed when we learned she always makes certain a home buyer walks in to a clean home. General cleaning, carpet cleaning and sparkling windows were part of our purchase contract.
Bill Sanford
In the past ten years I have been represented by highly professional real estate agents in six transactions. However, I will say, without reservation, Barbara was the most outstanding agent of all. Barbara did so many unexpected things throughout the purchase of my "perfect" home but the "coolest" was opening up all the cupboards and photographing all of their contents. Needless to say, that in itself saved me many "boxing" hours of items i would not need to transport, so much so that I hardly packed more than clothes and a toothbrush. It is now four months since my move and it still feels like paradise each and every day!
Don & Donna Hirschbein
Barbara Merrill was the realtor we chose to help us find a home in Palm Desert. We knew we wanted to settle in Indian Ridge, and Barbara was the person recommended to us by several of our friends. She more than met our expectations as she started with us on our journey to find the perfect place to call home. Barbara was patient with us as we began to define just what we were looking for. She was responsive to our requests, and followed up with us promptly to answer questions and help us narrow our prospects. “All’s well that ends well.” Not only did we find the perfect home for us, but we also made a new fiend in Barb!
Debby and Mike Pascavage
This was our first home buying experience in the desert, planning to relocate from the East Coast. We met Barbara at an Open House, and were impressed with her local market knowledge and professionalism. We decided to work exclusively with her in our search. She helped us identify the right house, and guided us through the complexities of buying in California. She was available to us seemingly 24/7 to address all of our many questions. Barbara goes above and beyond the scope of typical Realtor responsibilities, offering to help with anything you need. Also, as a fellow Owner in Indian Ridge, Barbara was able to offer us an extra level of comfort in our relocation decision. Her positive demeanor and fun personality made the home buying process a pleasure! We recommend Barbara without reservation!
Rick & Vickey Collier
We were very fortunate to have met Barbara Merrill during our search for a new desert home. She happened to be holding a weekend open house in one of the communities where we were most interested. Vickey & I connected with her warm & friendly personality right away and began working with her exclusively to help us narrow down our search . We really appreciated Barbara’s patience & knowledge of the many properties we ended up viewing during our final selection process.She certainly lead us to finding exactly what we had been looking for in a new desert home. As a matter of fact, we both sincerely believe that if it had not been for Barbara’s persistence & expertise , we would not have been successful in closing the home of our 1st choice. We are both so grateful to Barbara for her service as well as value her as a true friend. Vickey & I would both highly recommend her to others as a Real Estate Professional.
Nanci & Curt Morrison
Barbara helped sell our home, bringing qualified buyers. Upon selling she listened to our "must haves" as well as our desires and then searched out the perfect home for us. She was patient yet persevered to find the right home for us. Once found, she went above and beyond to ensure the closing was smooth and timely. We highly recommend Barbara for selling or buying your home!
Leila Fox
I have purchased and sold a number of homes in the desert and worked with many realtors. Barbara Merrill is truly an expert in the field. She had the patience to get to know me and the type of property that would suit my needs. In a very short period of time she delivered exactly what I had been looking for. Barbara got me the purchase price I wanted and the home warranty provided.I highly recommend Barbara, not only for her skills as a realtor, but also for her integrity as a person. She is warm, honest, and beautiful.
Jack Flanigan
Over the last four decades, I have bought and sold a lot of homes and had the opportunity to work with a number of very competent realtors. Fortunately, I have had the good fortune to have been represented by many of the top professionals in my area at the time.When identifying the go-to Realtors in the Coachella Valley, Barbara Merrill clearly qualifies for the club. She is elegant, personable, knowledgeable, and extremely hard working. From the very first day that I enlisted her assistance until the deal was closed, she was in regular contact with me with detailed reports regarding what was happening with the property.And once the offer was in, Barbara worked tirelessly to insure that every element needed to insure a timely close was addressed and solved. She is absolutely the best! I have been advised that the best thing that you can do when selecting a realtor is to interview a few candidates. So much of the relationship between the seller/buyer and the agent is the intangible element of personal compatibility. I am confident if you include Barbara that mix, she will be representing you!
Frank J. Ures, Jr
Barbara Merrill, my real estate agent who represented me in my recent purchase of my new residence, can only be considered a “breath of fresh air” to anyone dealing with the stress of buying a home. I would never choose anyone else to represent me in my future real estate dealings. I have the utmost respect for Ms. Merrill and assure you that she would not commit herself beyond her ability to perform.
Jan Starr
My husband and I had a fantastic experience with Bennion Deville Luxury Homes. The reason for this: Barbara Merrill.Barbara Merrill worked to make sure we found exactly what we were looking for in a house.Her patience and professionalism throughout the process far exceeded our expectations. Barbara knew the area and was realistic in showing us homes that we could afford to purchase. I would highly recommend Barbara to a friend or client that is looking for a home. I totally trust Barbara’s judgement, honesty and expertise of real estate in the desert.
Laura Revitz
I can highly recommend Barbara Merrill for all of your real estate needs. I have known her for a number of years and she has leased as well as sold homes for me in the Indian Ridge Country Club. She will make sure whether you are buying or selling, short or long term leasing that you get the best property on the market. Her knowledge of all the properties in the Valley is always up to date and accurate.
Tom and Beverly Benjamin
Dear BarbaraThank you so much for your diligence in getting our home sold in Indian Wells in such a short time span. Your professionalism coupled with your positive personality really made the difference. You did everything we could imagine in making stressless what is often stressful to so many. You did a great job!
Darlene Falcone
I feel so grateful that you worked with me on the day I first toured my new home at 477 White Horse Trail in Palm Desert. If it wasn’t for you, I do not believe I would have considered the purchase of this particular property since it did not have the “full on” golf course view I was seeking.However, as an excellent real estate sales professional, you were quick to point out all its extra features and amenities. My questions were addressed quickly and your follow-up was timely and thorough. I especially appreciated your patience and willingness to review other inventory as comparisons in order to assist me in my decision making process, yet I never felt that I was being high pressured.You were amazing to work with. Please feel free to use me as a reference for any of your new clients and please be assured that you will receive my highest recommendation.I love my new home; I know I have made the right decision, and thanks so much for helping me realize that this was the one.
Steve & Marcia Larson
Barbara is truly an exceptional Realtor®. She showed us only homes that were 100% appropriate to our criteria. She accommodated our tight schedule which sometimes involved early morning or late night visits or meetings. She was not hesitant to suggest multiple return visits to properties we were interested in. In one home, she arranged for a contractor to meet us (on short notice) in order that we could get an estimate regarding modifications we were considering. Barbara was not hesitant to point out negatives, as well as positives, in pertaining to the properties, the golf club or the transaction itself. Barbara has great judgment and a wonderful pleasant personality and is incredibly knowledgeable of everything related to the Indian Ridge community and the golf club. She started as an unfamiliar Realtor® and ended as our friend.
Mary Hiner-Harrell and James T. Harrell
To Whom it may concern:My husband James Harrell and I purchased a home at 526 Desert Holly Drive in Indian Ridge a couple of months ago. I would just like to comment on the total commitment to service by our Broker/Agent Barbara Merrill. We attempted to make an offer on another property, as well as looking at many. Barbara was always patient and determined to find the perfect fit. As a broker/owner for over 25 years; I can only say your company is very lucky to have a representative like Barbara; who was always willing to go the extra mile to get it to the closing table.It was a pleasure working with her.
Ken & Gayle Steidel
To Whom It May Concern,We were most fortunate to have Barbara Merrill as our Realtor when purchasing our home at Indian Ridge in Palm Desert. Barbara was instrumental in expediting all phases of our move from Idaho to California. After our new home closed escrow, Barbara offered us numerous local contacts which avoided trial and error in getting things done. We highly recommend Barbara Merrill as a true professional and an extremely hard worker.
Robert & Jane Cremin
Good deals happen when an agent sweats the details...Barbara leaves no rock unturned. Very pleased with the home that Barbara negotiated for us.Barbara does her homework. She is excellent at matching what you need with what she shows you. No time wasted with this professional.I like Realtors® who tell you what they think, especially the tradeoffs on a property that you’re looking at. This Professional becomes part of your team and expresses opinions with good judgement and balance. We’re very pleased with the home that we purchased and there were NO SURPRISES.. You can’t go wrong viewing properties with this lady. She knows the area, how to uncover values and will steer you away from properties that aren`t quite right for you. That saves time and money.When we trade up to our next dream house - Barbara will be on our team. There is no one better.
Caren Laing
I would happily recommend Barbara Merrill for your real estate needs. I found working with Barbara a pleasure as she always was friendly and diligent in searching for property and negotiating the twists and turns of escrow. She always got back to me in a timely fashion and was a careful listener. Even after my deal was closed, Barbara was a willing resource and helped wherever she could. As an out of town owner, I have had several instances where I called on Barbara to deal with some detail that required a person in place. Barbara was always willing to help.
The Mayers
We truly respect Barbara’s commitment to her clients. Every phone call was answered, every detail taken care of. We can highly recommend her and would use her again.
Jim and Cathy Geisbauer
Barbara was the main reason our condo sold when it did. She dedicated a large amount of time in selling our property and directed us to make improvements to make the home more marketable. Thank you Barbara for the wonderful service.
Mark and Theresa Love
Barbara Merill is all about knowledge of the business, client service and timely communication. As a Canadian buyer of a seasonal winter home, the tougher part of the deal was not in selecting the home or negotiating the price, but getting the US based financing we wanted and managing the buying process while we were out of the country. Her knowledge of the banker and broker market helped in securing financing on our terms. Thereafter, Barbara’s recommendation of a qualified home inspector revealed some compliance issues and minor repairs and Barbara made the trades’ recommendations and also handled all the scheduling of their work and all inspections. She also recommended a home insurance company and security provider and placed us with a new home warranty company. As we were absent at closing, Barbara stayed connected with the Escrow company. It would have been nearly impossible to have made this purchase if not for her working knowledge and experience. Her regular and effective communication with us and her management of all the moving parts in the transaction made it all come together and would recommend her highly.
Shirley & John Nagelhout
Barbara Merrill was our Realtor when purchasing a home in Indian Ridge. She was accessible and dependable and made the process so much easier and pleasant. We liked that she used all of the current technology that is available since we were not local. It saved a lot of time. After our home closed escrow, Barbara offered suggestions and contacts for services we needed . We highly recommend Barbara Merrill and are happy to have her as a neighbor and friend.
Carolyn & Ben Lund
As newcomers to the desert, we were house hunting in the usual haphazard manner. Then we were fortunate to meet Barbara Merrill who led us in the right direction. Barbara`s extremely professional and competent behavior is a tribute to the Real Estate profession. After finding the house we loved, Barbara Merrill then introduced us to Annette Eustice who became our very amazing Loan Broker. The joint effort by Barbara and Annette was so efficient that the entire transaction wascompleted in three weeks. It was truly our pleasure working with Barbara and Annette and it really made a very traumatic event, a thing of joy!
Jerry & Marilyn Lipson
We have had the privilege and honor to get to know Barbara Merrill for a few to several years. During this time we watched her blossom in her field! We listed our house which I might add has an outstanding view and is completely remodeled. Her approach with our home was so positive through the entire experience which lasted a shorter time than we anticipated. No doubt thanks to Barbara`s unrelenting efforts and commitment! Some of Barbara`s attributes include: Thorough, caring, committed, phenomenally hard-working, tenacious, genuine, high energy, honest, and last but not least, kind! Whenever an agent or a client wanted to see our house, Barbara was 100% available! And always followed up with us after every open house or personal viewing with notes and comments, great follow through! When selling a house you certainly do appreciate Barbara`s attention to details! Thank you Barbara for selling our house in an unprecedented time!
Boo Boero
Barbara spent a lot of time over the year to help us find the right place and worked tirelessly before and after our purchase. She is responsible, honest, and always available to help! She took us under her wing to make sure we met people at one of the Friday`s at the clubhouse. The best part is we have become good friends!
Dan & Joanne Boyle
I met Barbera thru friends who referred her to me. Barbara impressed me with her knowledge of the housing market and she made the entire process hassle free for me. It was a real pleasure working with Barbara. She knows her stuff. I highly recommend Barbara as she can make things happen. Thanks to her I am now a happy home owner in beautiful Sun City Shadow Hills community.
Peter and Lorie Steinman
Barbara recently helped us buy a home in Indian Ridge. We interviewed several real estate brokers, but after speaking with Barbara it was pretty clear that she was the one to go with - her superior knowledge of the market and all of the details that make for a successful transaction were readily apparent. Her opinions and advice proved valuable and were very much appreciated. She was always available when we needed her and she followed up on every detail without fail. In addition, she provided great tips and leads on setting up utilities and finding resources. We would heartily recommend her to anyone looking to buy or sell real property in the Coachella Valley.
Howard & Bonnie Fox
Barbara is the best realtor we have ever dealt with. Throughout the process she went above and beyond in providing great service, always working hard to further our interests. She always acts in a professional manner, and is highly knowledgeable. Being new to the area, she has also provided the highest quality referrals to us. We are happy to recommend her for all real estate needs.
Peter & Carma Gailing
We have recently had the opportunity to work with Barbara Merrill in purchasing one home at Indian Ridge and selling our existing home also at Indian Ridge. All the stresses associated with previewing and looking at homes were greatly reduced because of her knowledge and specifically her knowledge of Indian Ridge. She even found a buyer for our current home before it went on the market. That is a Realtor!!!! We can`t say enough about her professional skills and responsiveness to our needs in every way. As a bonus we made a great new friend and are looking forward to spending many good times with her. We can highly recommend Barbara Merrill.
Mary Peltier
I met Barbara at an open house in Indian Ridge. I had been looking to buy for a couple months and hadn`t met a realtor that impressed me. Barbara did. With her knowledge of Indian Ridge, she was able to find the perfect house for us. She arranged several private showings and helped me decide on the perfect price. She has an amazing list of contacts that are very needed, both before and after the sale. Barbara was there during every step. After we made an offer and the house was in escrow, Barbara arranged for me to meet some of the neighbors at one of the clubs Friday night socials. Very impressive. Barbara let me know of every step needed, even down to providing me with a timeframe and list of numbers for all utilities. Best of all, she does it with a "SMILE”.
Jack and Paula Moran
We met Barbara through our friends, who had just gone into escrow on a house in Indian Ridge that Barbara had introduced to them. We shortly thereafter, began our search for a home in Indian Ridge with Barbara. She is professional in her dealings and knowledgeable of all the floor plans available, and she was extremely helpful. She patiently worked with us through several frustrating bids, and did not allow us to become discouraged. Once we located the house we wanted, she guided us through the Purchase and Sale Agreement and Escrow effortlessly. It has been a pleasure working with Barbara and we would highly recommend her to any new buyer looking in Indian Ridge.
Don & Carole Moser
Barbara, we want everyone to know how grateful we are that you were our realtor for our home purchase in Indian Ridge. Thank you so much for your patience and guidance and for helping us find a home that we love. It is amazing to us now how uninformed we were about buying a house in the Palm Desert area, and how fortunate we were to have found you when we met at a weekend open house in Indian Ridge, just by chance, about a year ago. We immediately liked your straightforward attitude and your kindness, skill and honesty. As you know, we recently sold our home of 40+ years in Sherman Oaks and both escrows closed simultaneously. The Sherman Oaks escrow was extremely frustrating and stressful due to the realtor not communicating with us once the home was sold, not returning our phone calls, or answering questions, etc. We felt we were on our own, left dangling on a vine. You were always available to us; you treated us with such care, you returned phone calls promptly, answered all our questions and concerns, all the while coordinating with the listing agent, and you professionally and seamlessly guided us through the Indian Ridge escrow. Barbara, you are truly a fabulous person, and an excellent realtor with a superior and extensive knowledge of the real estate market and the desert lifestyle. Thank you for sticking it out with us, and for all your hard work. It wasn’t easy finding what we were looking for, but you helped us make it happen.
Peter Kirkis
I have known Barbara for many years, so it was a natural thing to turn to her when I wanted to sell my Condo.I have to say that her professionalism and energy from the start impressed me. She had definite ideas about how to stage the property in order for a successful sale and lost no time in doing what was necessary to market the house. I cant recall a single day going by without some communication from her and always felt that she was doing everything possible to achieve my goals of a fast sale. She was sensitive to our needs of privacy, and always took those into consideration. Great job Barb!
Bill Loss
Barb was referred to me by a family member and I would highly recommend her. She is an expert resource who helped me find an ideal condo in Palm Valley Country Club. Barb was there at every step along the way to help me navigate the purchase. She was always available to answer questions and equally as important she offered suggestions based on her experience along the way. Barb is a professional in every way, not only knowledgeable but friendly and considerate. She is always positive and was as excited as I was when the escrow was closed.
Jack & Caren Kane
Hi Barb, Finally got a few minutes to let you know how much we appreciated all your help. We would like to thank you for all your great work to get our home sold. Selling a home is always emotional and certainly never easy, but we must say, you certainly took it as close to easy as possible for us. Your very personal commitment and process along with all that attention to those many many details from "start to finish" was really impressive. Some conversations that Caren and I have had on how to best describe our personal experience can be summed up with “Personal Touch, Smooth, and Always with a Smile.” Thanks for a job very well done!
Ron & Tanya Jamieson
We were incredibly impressed with our realtor, Barbara Merrill of Bennion Deville Homes. She sold our home in Palm Valley Country Club in one day at full price and helped us purchase a new home in Indian Ridge Country Club. She never left any questions unanswered and always responded promptly. She made sure as we moved forward that we were well informed and that we were in agreement with everything taking place. Barb’s professionalism, mentorship, knowledge, honesty, and hard work ethic are much appreciated. Results define the difference between a good verses a great professional.
Frank & Mary Carter
Barbara is the best realtor we have ever had! Our son is a realtor here in VA and he concurs. She did so much toward getting our house ready for sale since we were trying to do it long distance. We not only loved her doing it ......we became friends. Any time you need a referral we are here.
Linda and Pat Aldous
Barbara met us soon after our arrival to visit friends in Indian Ridge, Palm Desert. It wasn’t long after that, she was writing our offer on a sweet property that we are both so excited about. Barbara was very attentive and supplied us with much information and where to go and what to do in purchasing an American property by Canadians. We were very fortunate to meet Barbara, happy to give her our business and hope to continue our friendship!
Robert and Debbie Allen
We’ve owned a house in Indian Ridge for almost 12 years. It’s been listed for sale twice during this time and never sold. We’ve always ended up renting it. This spring we decided we wanted to list it for sale and we did not want to rent it. We asked Barbara Merrill to be our listing agent. Before she listed the house we discussed the market and a realistic sale price. We took her advice, and she sold the house in two months. Barbara is honest, communicative and a very hard and smart worker. She gets the job done. We were very pleased with how Barbara handled the sale from listing to closing and would definitely refer her. The Allens
Lee & Mari Kvam
We met Barbara at an open house, in the Indian Ridge Development. Her warm personality and professionalism made this a most positive experience. We highly recommend her for anyone looking for a place to call home. - Lee & Mari
Marge Weissman
Barbara, I want to thank you for all the time that has gone into helping me find the right home. You showed me many homes until we finally found the right one. You had much patience and understanding regarding my needs & with your help I was able to find the perfect home. You also helped me through all the escrow paperwork by personally hand delivering each and every document so I could sign the hard copies instead of using my computer to docusign. Since my computer was not cooperating at the time, your personal delivery service saved me a lot of time and aggravation. It’s been a pleasure working with you, and now it’s great to know I have a new friend!
Tim & Kathy Schruth
Dear Barbara, We want to thank you for the incredible work that you have done for us with our recent move from our house on White Horse Trail to our newly purchased home on Deer Haven Circle.The transaction involving the new home was no easy task as it involved working with a seller that had a complicated situation and your tenacity and patience was needed to get the job done. And, your very close involvement with the buyer of the previous house allowed that transaction to come to a close last week and we are very happy with the outcome. Thank you for the high level of energy that you put into this for us as well as your positive attitude and hands-on commitment.
Maureen Regan Cannon
I recently sold my home by using the absolute best broker in the desert, Barbara Merrill. Barbara was not only one of the most professional brokers I’ve ever worked with! But, most importantly, she sold my home within weeks of listing it! She offered tremendous advice on staging and other recommendations to help sell my home quickly and at a great price! Barbara is well-connected and is very well respected in the community. I can’t say enough wonderful things about working with Barbara. She’s simply the best!
Nick & Sharon Studen
We met Barbara 6 years ago and have become very good friends. Being in commercial real estate we hit it off. She is always a delight and makes you feel comfortable to be around. We have been a renter at Indian Ridge so never needed an agent until this year. We went to an open house and made an offer which the seller countered and we were under contract in days. Working with Barbara was a delight and made buying a home very easy. Her knowledge was over the top making sure we had dates and names of all involved with phone numbers. Not only did she answer questions and return phone calls immediately, but she also met us several times at the house and met inspectors when we were out of town. I would highly recommend Barbara for all real estate transactions from buying or selling. She is a fabulous person and the best realtor in the Valley!
Carol Somerville
Barbara Merrill is an outstanding realtor here in Palm Desert and in Indian Ridge Country Club. She is thorough, kind, sharp, and very astute in her field of real estate. She is honest and you can depend on her. She is very very friendly and a joy to work with. She is truly “The Concierge Realtor of the Desert”.
Jill & Michael Weinstein
Michael and I live in Bethesda, MD and had started looking for a second home in Palm Desert a year ago and had researched all the surrounding developments. Golf is very important and we settled on searching the Indian Ridge Community for our new home. I met Barbara at an Indian Ridge OPEN House this past February in the beginning of my search there. Barbara and I connected immediately and she’s extremely personable and a professional real estate agent. I gave her our criteria and price range and arranged to tour homes the following week to narrow down the field for when my husband would return from the east coast. Barbara’s knowledge of the Indian Ridge real estate market is superb. She not only knew of houses on the MLS, but also homes that were coming on the market and those of friends and neighbors who may decide to sell, because Barbara has a interested buyer. When Michael arrived, her relationships with the club allowed us to get in on a membership weekend last minute and we were able to play the golf course and be introduced into the community and that was very important to us. We started negotiating on one home, but the seller wasn’t budging so we moved on. At the very last minute prior to us leaving to go back east, Barbara called and said her neighbors wanted to return to Chicago and were we interested in seeing their home? We were in there by 6 pm and went home to negotiate the sale. Barbara was an excellent negotiator and we appreciated her immediate responses. It was a successful purchase and Barbara made the process as seamless as possible. Barbara not only guided us through the sale, she was a wealth of knowledge for introductions to contractors to help with small or large projects in our new home. It’s hard to do things when you are so far away, but all of Barbara`s recommendations have been fantastic and because she made those recommendations we had the utmost confidence in them. A month prior to closing she emailed us a checklist for calling/contacting all our utilities so once our sale was complete, the transfer of everything went without a hitch. Barbara, thank you for your attention to detail and help in every aspect of our home purchase, Michael and I are thrilled with our purchase, the home location and look forward to being your neighbor and friend. We highly recommend Barbara Merrill if you are looking for a great agent in the Palm Desert area.
Jill & Michael Weinstein Bethesda, Maryland
John & Sarah Bain
We met Barbara through some friends that had just purchased a home in Indian Ridge. We just closed on our house and the whole process was seamless. She made sure we had all the information we needed and recommended the best people in the area. In addition she made sure she was around for all the inspections and ensured that the work that needed to be completed was done in a timely fashion. All in all the whole process of buying the home was easily completed because of her attention to detail and follow up with us.
Murdie Pollon & Susie Lee
Barbara sold our house in 1 day!! She helped stage our house for the listing which made a big difference. Being Canadians and not always here, she took care of everything and made the whole process seamless. She recommended the best people in the area to finish the transaction. She made sure we were informed with all the steps for the process. She was there for the inspection and hired all the handyman for repairs at a very reasonable price. We would highly recommend her. She went above and beyond!
Janet Love & Jack Mustoe
Barbara was the consummate professional during our sales process. She was so easy to work with and brought tremendous creativity and ingenious ideas in preparing the home to look the best it could for sale. The communication during the 90 day process from listing to closing was excellent. She was very responsive to all questions and she provided very honest and helpful feedback. We would highly recommend Barbara!
Dan & Wendy Nicholas
We have had a Condominium in the Palm Desert area for a few years and decided to move here full time. While our Condo was perfect as a second home we wanted a larger home as a primary residence. We narrowed down where we wanted to move and Indian Ridge was on our short list. We met Barbara at an open house in the spring and she put us on her mailing list regards Indian Ridge which proved to be very helpful. When we returned in the fall we called Barbara to show us properties. Beginning with the open house when we first met Barbara, through the close of escrow on our house eight months later we found Barbara to be one of the most helpful, responsive and professional people we have worked in the real estate business. We highly recommend Barbara.
Jane & Bob Wyker
Barbara is an extraordinary realtor! Friends who had recently worked with her in successfully buying their home were happy to recommend her to us. We had the same satisfying experience! Barbara immediately sensed our taste, was extremely knowledgeable about the community and the properties she showed us, as well as handling all the details to make it possible for us to close remotely since we lived out of state. She was a delight to work with from start to finish — effective, knowledgeable, detail oriented and thorough. It is our great pleasure to recommend her.
David & Meg Firestone
If you’re represented by Barbara you’re in great hands. If you have a question? Call her. She’s there for you. And with a smile. She’s knowledgeable, caring, professional, prompt, and basically lives for her clients best interests. She made buying a home in Indian Ridge a joy.
John & Sarah Bain
We have now been a repeat client and have bought a home using Barbara Merrill and have also sold a home using Barbara. For those looking to sell or buy a home look no further than Barbara Merrill. As stressful as it can sometimes be, she makes everything go as easy as possible. If something needs to be completed she has the resources to get the job done. She is great on follow up and is always cheerful about doing it. Overall our experience went smoothly and on time.
What other people are saying about Barbara Merrill
Our introduction to Barbara by our close friends was a blessing. We have worked with many realtors over the years in the US and Canada who have not come close to Barbara's professionalism. Smart, always available, kind, helpful, friendly, well versed in all aspects of buying, and most importantly honest. I told Barbara she was the best and she is. Give her a call, you won't regret it.
Jane & Doug
I'll be in the desert tomorrow night. Thinking about selling my house. would love to visit with you.
Maggie Dahmer
We can confirm all the compliments that are described herein. Barbara consistently rises to the occasion whether it be positive or a problem needing a solution. We recommend her highly.
Susan and Marc Bernstein