Moving

[Lyss]

So my DH and I have been prequalified and have started looking at homes. Really we are looking to stay in the same area, hoping within 3-5miles of our current home.

Would you discuss this with DCPs or just let them know when you've made an offer? Or when your moving?

[CrackerJacks]

I would steer away from letting the parents know anything. All too many times we as providers give our families too much information too soon as to our personal lives (we are moving, expecting a baby, looking for a new career, changing our hours etc) just to end up getting backfired on. Parents start to worry when they know a change is coming and some pull their kids from Childcare before any real significance comes about. Then what if things fall through and your stuck with less kids? I would wait until its really official and you have actually done the final paperwork.

[cheerfuldom]

I would steer away from letting the parents know anything. All too many times we as providers give our families too much information too soon as to our personal lives (we are moving, expecting a baby, looking for a new career, changing our hours etc) just to end up getting backfired on. Parents start to worry when they know a change is coming and some pull their kids from Childcare before any real significance comes about. Then what if things fall through and your stuck with less kids? I would wait until its really official and you have actually done the final paperwork.

Do not discuss until your have chosen a house and your closing date is finalized. Then tell them two weeks before the closing date and that gives them enough time to review your location and plans and decide if they want to go with you for the move or if they want to start looking for new care. It could be awhile before you find a house, have offer accepted, get the closing date confirmed. dont tell too soon!

[Lyss]

Thanks for your advice! I don’t share every detail of my life with my DCFs, in fact I prefer to keep it very separate. I was planning not to tell them, as I really don't think it's their business what we’re doing until it affects the DC. A friend I was talking to got upset that I wasn’t telling them because she “as a parent” would want to know and would feel upset if she was suddenly told her provider was moving. I don’t expect this to be a quick change and fully intend to give them time to process and decide. We’re also planning on staying in the same area we are now so it would create much of a dilemma with drop off or pick up.

I think most of my parents will be on board with it, I only have one I really expect to make a stink about it but honestly if she takes it as an opportunity to leave I’d be ok with that. happyface

[cheerfuldom]

good luck with the move! I understand your friend making a snap judgment on you but you have to remember that she is commenting as a parent. of course the parents would want to know now but the reality is that they might take the chance to leave immediately and not see if things work out. that is financially a bad decision for you. it makes perfect sense that as the provider, you arent going to mention anything until there is a concrete plan, to avoid a mass exodus. I am sure you will give as much notice as possible but you are also a business owner. you have to balance a lot more things in the decision besides just the convenience of the parents. dont let your friends comment get to you!

[Holiday Park]

I didn't say anything until we knew 100% sure with which house we went with (we rent though) . We were already going to take a month to move (renting both places the last month of current home) so they had plenty of notice. I set up the daycare room first before anything else. So if our first rental house started looking not presentable it would be time to use the other house.
It worked out in their favor because we ended up moving approx 2-3 miles closer in their direction . She ended up dropping off 30-60 minutes later from then on and i didnt have to wake up as early. We also moved within the same area.
Funny thing is though, even though the house is 900 square ft more, my location now makes it harder to find new clients . Where as before potential clients loved my location as it was a direct way to or from their work.

[Meeko]

I moved my daycare from our other home in the city north of us, to our main home here. Door to door....11 miles further south.

I didn't tell the DCP's until two weeks before we moved.

I simply gave them a letter stating that we were moving.

Now a lot of them already lived in the "new" town, so that worked in my favor!!! But I still didn't say anything until 2 weeks before.

[LaLa1923]

I would say it would probably depend on how the majority of your group is. I was SUPER hurt when my provider only gave me two weeks notice when she was moving. I thought we had a better relationship. I ALWAYS picked up on time or paid the fee if I was in traffic. I also gave her things all the time to help out. Milk, eggs, food, breakfast for all the kids, cases of baby wipes, bonuses etc. (paid for full time but they only went part time) I appreciated her very much! I took it very personal. I still would've stayed with her until the very last day.