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Terry's Story  |
If
it were not for a marina owner's love of donuts, Terry Miller may never have
gotten the opportunity to sell houseboats. Terry explains, "I knew he was trying
to run a
marina, and sell boats, and didn't have time to do them both justice. I talked
to him on several occasions about how I thought I could help him sell boats, and
each time I took a dozen donuts. He wasn't easily sold on the idea, but finally
decided if he didn't let me help him, he was going to gain too much weight from
all the donuts I was bringing him".
Soon a company that sold a
few boats each year on the side, started becoming a force in the
houseboat industry. When local banks were passing up opportunities for loans,
she went to their loan officers and explained the benefits of loaning to
houseboaters. She found reputable
people throughout the area to service the
needs of houseboaters, and create many satellite businesses. Everyone from
marine mechanics, canvas installers, roof gelcoat specialists, hull
re-finishers, pressure washers, boat haulers, documenters, insurance companies,
as well as banks, have all benefited from Terry's success. In addition, the
marina benefited by filling slips, and had a steady flow of new customers
equipping their boat with accessories, such as bumpers, ropes, nautical
decorations, and fuel.
Terry has often been referred to
as
America's Houseboat Queen™.
She developed her
reputation mostly by word of mouth, and past customers repeat business.
Customers appreciate the extra time she spends educating first time buyers, and
can sense her enthusiasm, and direct approach. She would rather steer you to a
boat she does not have listed, than see you get a boat that you are unhappy
with. She knows this may knock her out of a sale today, but believes in the old
adage, "What goes around, comes around, and a customers positive comments will
help her later on down the road.
| Terry's 3 daughters enjoy a ride in our very first houseboat a 1968 Stardust. |
Living and working in the "Houseboat Capitol of the World", has given Terry a unique insight into the heart of this industry. Working along side, and sometimes competing directly with houseboat manufacturer's, has helped make our company better able to understand your needs.
Some customers have
been surprised to learn of Terry's vast knowledge of houseboats, even down to
the mechanical workings, and engines. She understands the differences in things
such as an electrical inverter verses a converter, or a carbureted, MPI, and EFI engine. She knows when Westerbeke generators switched over to Mitsubishi
engines, and the smaller impeller now used, and how to install it. However, when she finds something she doesn't know, she doesn't stop until
she finds the answer. This makes her better at answering all your questions.
Conley Bottom Resort-Home of Houseboats
Buy Terry Main Office
Terry was asked to conduct a seminar
at the Houseboat Expo in Louisville about buying
and selling a houseboat. As a result of
this seminar, she was approached by boaters who wanted to learn to do what she
did, and be a part of her team. So we have expanded our offices to several
different marinas, with brokers who treat their customers with the same respect
and enthusiasm as Terry.
In addition to selling used boats "Houseboats
Buy
Terry"
offers factory new houseboats. Horizon Yachts in Monticello, KY. is the company
Terry and her husband Tom have chosen to build their new houseboats. Each
houseboat is uniquely designed, using over 14 years of houseboat experience.
Customers tell them their favorite features of all the different houseboats they
have seen. Then with the help of Horizon Yachts President Ray Chesney and his
talented staff, they incorporate those ideas into the houseboat designs they
build.
"Houseboats Buy Terry" Floating Office
Terry's floating office is
located in the central part of Lake Cumberland at Conley Bottom Resort on board
a houseboat. This allows her to easily reach customers on both ends of the lake.
In addition to houseboats, she also sells many different price ranges
of cruisers. She explains, "many times cruiser family's have expanded to the
point where they need the room a houseboat offers. I help make that happen by
offering to sell their cruiser, and find them the houseboat that best fits their
family. On the other hand, sometimes a houseboater reaches a point in their life,
where they don't need a large boat, so I have cruisers to fit their needs as
well.
Terry started her working career in the late 70's inside a hospital, as a
registered nurse. Recently referring to her current career she said, "In a
way, I feel like I'm still taking care of
people". She has been married for going on 29 years, to her husband Tom, who she met
in high school over three decades ago. He works with her, and maintains this
website. They first started out with a sailboat, and have always had a boat of
some kind to enjoy. She has 3 beautiful daughters, the youngest is a freshman at the University of Kentucky, the middle daughter is a
recent graduate from UK, with an art studio degree, and employed as a
photographer, and the oldest daughter is a UK
graduate, newlywed, and an elementary school teacher in Lexington.
Terry says, "I feel blessed
to be working in an atmosphere where most people come to vacation".
She doesn't take this for granted,
and looks forward to helping see your dreams come
true!
