What Would You Do?

[Francine]

I interviewed a Mom Thursday evening, gave her all of the paperwork, handbook etc. to take home and talk over with her husband and get back with me to let me know if they want the spot. It sounded at the time like a done deal, I probably should have had her sign everything right then and there but I didn't. They don't want to start until August but I didn't mention any sort of a holding fee etc. when I talked to her, stupid but I don't think it's too late. I haven't heard from her so am going to call her today.

Since then I have had another call, a teacher's baby who doesn't want to start until September. I did mention to this Mom about a holding fee or the need to bring the baby on a part time basis until she wants to start full time in September. She talked to her Friday at about 6 and they were heading downstate for the weekend and said she would call me to set up an interview. She wanted references and knows half of them so she was pretty excited. Here again, stupid me didn't mention to her that I had this other one pending a call.

So now today I have to call Mom number one to see if she wants the spot, if she does how do I bring up the holding fee now? ANd if she takes the spot what do I tell Mom #2 when she calls to set up the interview? I can only take one of these kids because they are both infants and I already have one signed up.

It has been years since I've had to do this and I feel like I have majorly screwed this up.

[Pammie]

I personally don't call parents after interviews to see if they want the spot. Unless you specifically told her, "I'll be holding the spot until I hear from you" then I would go ahead and interview parent #2.

If in the meantime, parent #1 does eventually call you back and wants the spot, you can simply tell her that since you hadn't heard from her, you had to assume that they were no longer interested, and already committed to interviewing family #2. And now YOU will see which family is the best fit for your daycare.

Always let the parents know that they are not the only ones making a decision about placement into your daycare. If they know that they have to impress you as well, good families will check your references and make their decision in a timely basis. In fact, over the years, ALL of my "golden" families have requested placement after the interview within 2 daysI figure that if I have to chase a parent down to see what their decision on placement is, then that's the same family I'm going to have to chase down for their payments, timely pick-ups, etc. and I'd rather not start them in the first place.

Good luck!

[Daycare Mommy]

I agree with Pammie. If they interviewed Thursday and it's now Monday I would assume they are no longer interested. Move on and keep interviewing others. Let the teacher know others are interviewing for the slot and hopefully you'll get her papers signed and a deposit soon. Good luck!

[nannyde]

I don't check back with parents after the interview. I let them come back to me. If I can fill the slot in the meantime then I do.

This is a tough time to get new clients. Most folks looking for day care where I live KNOW they have a HUGE choice of a wide range of providers. They often can take their time.

I don't know about your area but it's a buyers market here. The cost of day care is around the rates from 7-8 years ago because the market is flooded with recession providers offering long hours, low rates, and little if any contractual obligations.

In my area the long standing Centers are failing one after another. We've had Centers who have been here for 10 plus years closing their doors. They can't compete with providers in their area who are offering care for 30-40 percent of their fees.

Unless you are in a sellers market in your area you will find that the time it takes for parents to respond may increase from what you are used to. They have options like never before. You can take the route of contacting them post interview but it's a shaky start to the relationship. They will be able to smell any level of desperation and could start the arrangement with you with the upper hand. It's nearly impossible to get that back over time.

As far as a holding fee? Unless your area is really low on providers I would rethink that. A deposit for their first two weeks of care or something like that would most likely work... but a fee when they aren't bringing their kid could loose you the deal. I personally wouldn't do that.

Nan

[Francine]

As far as a holding fee? Unless your area is really low on providers I would rethink that. A deposit for their first two weeks of care or something like that would most likely work... but a fee when they aren't bringing their kid could loose you the deal. I personally wouldn't do that.

Nan

What I have always done is tell them that they can either bring their child one or two days per week or pay the holding fee, it's up to them. For teachers anyway I have always found that they would rather bring the child one day per week all summer so that they have one day to get errands etc. done.

[momma2girls]

I have had this happen before as well when I first started doing daycare. I held a spot without a dep. then the family decided that they were not going to need daycare at all. I know what they did they found some high school child to watch them during the summer. I had numerous calls in the meanttime over this one opening. I waited long enough, that these all found daycare as well!!! I will never do this again!!! I always ask for a dep. or the spot is not held for them at all! I have this written in my contract as well.
I would tell them both that you have one opening and you will need a dep. to hold that spot, along with the signed contract back.
I have also changed my dep. policy to one week per month-
This seems to work, and if they do not want to pay it, they can call me back a couple months before they need me to see if I have room, but they still have to pay the one week per month, it will just be alot less money upfront. Good luck!!

[tymaboy]

I dont call back. I fill the spot as soon as I can. I dont want to seem pushy by always calling but I also wont wait for the parents to remember to call me back. If they dont call back then that makes a good learning experience for them if I fill the spot before they decide to call back. I a mother wait 2 weeks before calling me back one time. I filled the spot in that 2 week time frame. She did not sound happy but I refuse to wait for parents to make up their mind if someone else comes by & know what they want right away.

[My4SunshineGirlsNY]

I agree with everyone else..I don't call back...I had a mom interview me for her 9 month old a couple of months ago, she didn't call back so one would think she wasn't interested and found someone else. She then called back and wanted my daycare A MONTH later! By then I already filled the spot. Sorry but first come first serve in this business. It has been slow at getting clients through the winter that I am not letting one slip away by waiting on someone else to answer a yes or no. Nor will I hunt them down to force them to make an answer, they either want my service or don't.

I would go ahead and interview family number 2 and if they hire you, the spot is theirs. Good luck!!

[originalkat]

At the interview I tell the family that I have had several other calls about the spot and if they want to hold their child's spot then I need a signed contract along with the 1st week's tuition ($125.00) Usually they still want to go home and talk about it, but it puts a fire under them to hurry up and get back to me because any of those other calls I have had could sign up and take the spot first.

In your situation, since you didnt already tell her that, I would give her a call and just say " Hello, this is________ from ________ daycare and we interviewd last week. I wanted to get back with you since I have several other families interested in the spot. If you would like to enroll in my program, I would just need a signed contract along with $_______ as a holding deposit.
If you leave the message on an answering machine, then you have said your peace and you need to just move on. If they call back great, if not...oh well. If you speak to her in person then maybe you can get a better feel for her interest level.

If the first family signs up, just call the other family and tell them that your current spot for the fall has been filled, but if she would still like to come by and check out your program she is welcome to and you could put her on a waiting list.

Dont worry, you didnt screw anything up...its all in the wording...you can "fix" this situation fairly easily and then learn from your mistake so that next time you wont have these same concerns. Good luck!

[misol]

I do the same as most - I don't call back. I let the parent know when they that I will continue to interview for the spot until I find the best fit. To secure the spot they need a signed contract and a two-week deposit.

[jen]

I don't call people back either. I assume that if they want the spot that they will let me know. When they do tell me they'd like the spot I have them pay for the first weeks care and fill out all of the paperwork.

In this case, I would probably be pretty keyed up for the teacher...early pick ups, lots of school holidays...I would for sure not be calling client prospect #1

[HeatherB]

First one to sign alll paperwork and call you get the spot! You will miss many oppotunity if you wait around for possible parents to call or sign on. Move on to the next parent!

[Chickenhauler]

Interviewing a daycare family is like interviewing an employee....if they don't call you back when you offer them the position, then move on to the next one.

I can understand the mother wanting to take the time to read the contract over without you looking over their shoulder and talk it over with the husband, but that takes a couple hours.

First come, first serve.

[laundryduchess@yahoo.com]

yep.... Ive had to turn them away at the door before,.. family A interview goes fine,... they say well we will get back with you by friday noonish,... they dont,.. I interviewed others that week and had one family B who brought me papers friday afternoon with deposit and fees. Monday morning family A showed up with child in tow,... I had to say Im sorry but I have already filled the position with another family,.. You didnt get back to me when you said you would. And I have contracted with another family.

[Daycare Mommy]

yep.... Ive had to turn them away at the door before,.. family A interview goes fine,... they say well we will get back with you by friday noonish,... they dont,.. I interviewed others that week and had one family B who brought me papers friday afternoon with deposit and fees. Monday morning family A showed up with child in tow,... I had to say Im sorry but I have already filled the position with another family,.. You didnt get back to me when you said you would. And I have contracted with another family.

Oh wow! Talk about a mistake for a parent to learn from there! Yikes!