I Need A Boast Of Confidence Please!!

[frugalmama4]

Ok, so I have been working on re-doing my handbook (posted under other thread) thanks to all for the feed back.

I decided to due as so many here does and not give out rates over the phone. I now get a brief ideal of what they need e.g. hours/days/full-part time etc. I go over my general location (ensuring they live/work close by), then I close out with " I do not discuss tuition rates over the phone their done during a face to face interview. At this we will be able to work out all the details regarding your child care needs. I can email you a copy of my parent handbook; if our philosophy/goals and policies adhere to you families needs we can then schedule an interview.

So now I wait, today was the first time I was able to use this technique with two potential clients. I do have faith in my handbook...just hate waiting

Anyone else does this?
Do I follow up? How long? By phone or email?

[frugalmama4]

Oh, BTW I totally need to get some new families (as mentioned in several other post reply's)

I think I'm getting close to term one family are pushing them to term themselves...long story for another thread.

Wish me luck!

[daycare]

Oh, BTW I totally need to get some new families (as mentioned in several other post reply's)

I think I'm getting close to term one family are pushing them to term themselves...long story for another thread.

Wish me luck!

why not mention rates over the phone? I have mine listed on the website.

If they can't afford you, then why would you waste all of that time doing a face to face, if they can't even afford to pay you.

Remember phone interview first....Sell yourself first then tell them the price.

When they ask questions like how much, can I come tour. I say well why don't you tell me your your looking for before I can give you either one. (something like this)

We talk about what days/hours they need.

I give them a little run down of how I run my DC. We talk about the activities, meals, sleeping, consistent days and etc. I always sell them on my community in the classroom program. If they ask how much, I will tell them. I have nothing I want to hide or waste time with.

Then if I feel that they would be a good fit, I invite them to come to my house for a face to face.

[MizzCheryl]

yeah I was wondering about rates over the phone. I get calls that are hello, what do you charge? LOL and Hello, what time do you close?

[Meeko]

I always tell people what I charge. They are shopping around and yes, the cost does matter. They may LOVE a certain day care...but if it's out of their budget, it's out of their budget and they have just wasted a whole evening.

Looking for day care can be time consuming. As a young parent, I wouldn't have wanted to go to a day care with no idea of their rates. It may differ in some parts of the country. In an affluent area, where money is no object, I can see this working. I live in a college town. Both BYU AND UVU are on the doorstep and MANY of my clients are students. They are both going to school AND working and price IS a big deal. I don't really like the calls that start with "How much do you charge"...but I understand that many people are on a TIGHT budget...so they just want the bare facts before they start discussing anything else.

There is a furniture place here that has wonderful prices. When you call them, they want you to go into one of their showrooms first and meet with them. I found out that they hard sell a yearly fee in order to get their good rates. Great if you were going to remodel your whole house, but terrible if you just want a couch.

I didn't go as I was sure I was going to get a hard sell on something I didn't need or could afford.. I think some parents would think that of a day care that wouldn't discuss rates too.

[wdmmom]

I don't offer a quote until I know their needs. I also make it very clear that the quote is based on information they provided. If they make changes, the rate may change as well.

[frugalmama4]

yeah I was wondering about rates over the phone. I get calls that are hello, what do you charge? LOL and Hello, what time do you close?

Yeah right? I'm so sick of these calls, yea I totally get that times are hard and you can only give a certain amount towards daycare. But really don't sell yourself short (parents) by opening a conversation with "how much you charge", you have newbies who will low ball themselves just to get someone in the door only to realize 3months later they can't live off $50 a week.

I do not wanna waste my time interviewing someone who can't afford me, but I can't sell my self over the phone (successfully) while I have screaming kids in the back ground either. So this is why I'm trying it this way, I offer a lot of things most in-home and center daycare's in my area do not..so allowing them a chance to see all the benefits of my services in black and white will hopefully get them in for an interview.

This is the first trial run with this technique...wish me luck!

[frugalmama4]

I don't offer a quote until I know their needs. I also make it very clear that the quote is based on information they provided. If they make changes, the rate may change as well.

This is a good ideal, I will try this out too. Thx

[EntropyControlSpecialist]

Yeah right? I'm so sick of these calls, yea I totally get that times are hard and you can only give a certain amount towards daycare. But really don't sell yourself short (parents) by opening a conversation with "how much you charge", you have newbies who will low ball themselves just to get someone in the door only to realize 3months later they can't live off $50 a week.

I do not wanna waste my time interviewing someone who can't afford me, but I can't sell my self over the phone (successfully) while I have screaming kids in the back ground either. So this is why I'm trying it this way, I offer a lot of things most in-home and center daycare's in my area do not..so allowing them a chance to see all the benefits of my services in black and white will hopefully get them in for an interview.

This is the first trial run with this technique...wish me luck!

Tell me more! I'm interested to read more!

Where in TX do you live? I live in N. TX.

[frugalmama4]

I always tell people what I charge. They are shopping around and yes, the cost does matter. They may LOVE a certain day care...but if it's out of their budget, it's out of their budget and they have just wasted a whole evening.

Looking for day care can be time consuming. As a young parent, I wouldn't have wanted to go to a day care with no idea of their rates. It may differ in some parts of the country. In an affluent area, where money is no object, I can see this working. I live in a college town. Both BYU AND UVU are on the doorstep and MANY of my clients are students. They are both going to school AND working and price IS a big deal. I don't really like the calls that start with "How much do you charge"...but I understand that many people are on a TIGHT budget...so they just want the bare facts before they start discussing anything else.

There is a furniture place here that has wonderful prices. When you call them, they want you to go into one of their showrooms first and meet with them. I found out that they hard sell a yearly fee in order to get their good rates. Great if you were going to remodel your whole house, but terrible if you just want a couch.

I didn't go as I was sure I was going to get a hard sell on something I didn't need or could afford.. I think some parents would think that of a day care that wouldn't discuss rates too.

I agree people are shopping around, but people are not so smart with telling you the whole story. I think I will include a rate quote in the email, based on the information provided like "wdmmom" stated. Thanks for the feed back

[frugalmama4]

Tell me more! I'm interested to read more!

Where in TX do you live? I live in N. TX.

Houston,

I'm trying to clean house if you will, ready for new family's. I totally understand childcare is expense these days...but parents have to understand what they'll paying for. I have a Money Matters section in my handbook it keeps it real, I think.

Yea, I know parents only see the amount their paying each month and nothing else. If you really break your weekly rate down to the amount of hours these kids are in care...you are probably making $2.50 an hour if not less.

At the end of the day for me it's really not all about the $$$ As I know God supplies all. But I'm no fool...bad English here...I ain't keeping no body's baby for FREE!

How long have you been at this?