What would you do?

[monkeymama]

I interviewed a family last week- seemed great, little girl was cute....mom was having some issues transferring from FT to PT after mat leave. They assured me multiple times they were going with me and would contact me in a few days to start care. That was a week ago and I havent heard from them.
I got contacted last night by a woman needing care for a 1yr old to start in August. 4 days a week which would really help us out $ wise.
Im wondering if I should wait for the other family to get back to me, ask for a holding fee (Im not even sure how much as Ive never done that) from the family for August or just go with the second family and suck up the loss of income until August?
Thanks

[Play and Learn]

I would email family A back and state that you need a deposit by set date, as you're currently interviewing with other families. For deposits, I ask for a 2-week non-refundable deposit (it becomes my 1st two weeks of care - others do it so it becomes the last two-weeks of care - ultimately, up to you!).

Contact Family B and set up an interview with them.

[jazmic]

What play and learn said.

[playfelt]

I would go ahead and interview family B and get a feel for them. If they aren't the right fit then issue solved.

If they are a good fit and interested then since it is your business and family A has taken over a week - more than a few days to get back to you then you have every right to accept family B and then to notify family A that the space is no longer available.

One of the reasons Family A might not have gotten back is mom is still sorting out her new schedule with work. However she should have done that before looking for care so she knew what she needed.

If family A is starting right away you could forego any deposit but this would be a good place to take a two week deposit for the last two weeks of care.

For family B they should be paying a two week deposit and as playandlearn said some apply it to the first two weeks of care, some the last two weeks of care or some to the first week of the second and third month of care - ie after any initial transition either can leave without notice period has passed if you have that clause.

[apples and bananas]

I had a similar situation once. The client loved me, wanted to commit that night but didn't have her cheque book. Never contacted me again. I sent several emails ( i didn't take her phone number, lesson learned) finally I sent an email that said 'if I don't hear from you by XXX time I will assume you no longer need care and will offer the space to the next client' I got an email back saying her email wasn't working and she appologized and she wasn't comfortable with one part of my program so she opted out.

Point is.... move on! First one in with a deposit wins in my house and I make sure every one knows that. When I was looking for home daycares I didn't delay or wait, I got my confirmation in right away! If they're interested they will do the same.

[monkeymama]

thanks all! i agree with all of you i think i just needed to see it written out or something lol. Family A was great and Im disappointed I havent heard from them. I am going to set up a meeting with Family B and see how that goes then make a decision.

[Littledragon]

i also charge a deposit and state that until i receive the deposit, I am unable to hold their place. If I hadn't heard from them in a week, and you didn't ask for a deposit, I would email them and state that there is interest and you're wondering if they still the need the spot. If you don't hear back from them within 48 hours, I would move on. That's just rude of them to do that. It would teach them not to muck around when they need something from someone. I am BIG on not being taken advantage of (as most everyone probably knows by now lol) an if someone took their time getting their s**t together, that would be foreshadowing of more problems brewing.

[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