What is the right thing to do?

[Inspired by Reggio]

I have now put it in my Policy Handbook that I show during interview or email before interview that I can be interviewing several families at once and until deposit and completed paperwork have been returned the space is not guaranteed. Then there is no excuse when they miss out!

I agree - although I do not have anything 'written' this is the verbal explanation given during the interview process - I interview several potential clients at once and when I have finished my interview process I notify my first choice and let them know that I would love to have them in my program and if I am their first choice the deposit and contract needs to be signed with 24 hours of the offer or I will move onto my 2nd choice and so forth.

I am not going to miss out on filling a spot because someone else is 'waffling' on signing on or not ... someone selling a car is not going to turn down an offer from a second person because someone was by a week earlier and 'expressed interest' ... in business MONEY TALKS