What would you do?

[playfelt]

After a week I would just move on and not contact family A. What I have had happen is that family A panics and comes and signs papers etc more to hold the space than to use the space and then in the end backs out. So what if I have the deposit - I have lost valuable interviewing time and usually can't fill the space with 2 weeks notice.

I interview till the space is filled and it is filled when someone brings me back the paperwork. I also started a policy of not accepting anyone the night of the interview other than an emergency situation. I need them to go home, look over my paperwork, make a rationale less emotional decision and contact me back. For one of my best families that was only about 4 hours but in that time they read my papers and called two of my references, talked to the grandma about if they were making the right decision then called me to arrange to come the following night to complete things.

[Spixie33]

I would get a bad vibe from family #1 by now. Communication and trust are VITAL to a healthy working relationship and these people haven't even responded to your email. That is pretty rude and not a good sign. I am sure they are checking their email at least once a day.

Perhaps they are buying more time while they interview others. I think that someone really serious would have made contact with you within 24 hours and said they were bringing the deposit before your space fills up.

I would be setting my sights on family 2 at this point

Good luck