Unlike some of the others ahve mentioned that they prefer emails, I actually require clients to call me by phone before coming to an interview in person. We can have initial contact over email, but I want to talk to them first and know that they are a real parent looking for care and have a feeling about them through a bit of chit chat over the phone first. If I get a really bad feeling, I probably wouldn't book an interview in person, but I do understand that some people are shy or not good on the phone.