Any luck with people paying to hold spots?

[mickyc]

I have a spot opening at the beginning of May. I have always filled my spots fairly quickly but this time around I have had a few emails but no appointments set up. I am a bit out of the way of most people and our house is currently for sale and I have that in my ad so that people know it will only be short term that they have to drive to me. It still seems like I hear "oh you are too far". Sigh.... Well tonight I have a meeting set up but the family doesn't need care until September. I don't hold spots. There is no way I could wait that long to get paid so I told the family that I would charge $500 a month instead of my $600 to hold the spot. Surprisingly she still wants to meet. I just have the feeling I am wasting my time meeting with her. I have never ever had anyone actually pay that long to hold a spot, a few weeks yes but not 4 months!

Have any of you actually had people pay to hold spots?

[5 Little Monkeys]

That would be great for you if they did!! I'll cross my fingers for ya!

If I remember correctly (me and my terrible memory lol) I have only had one parent do this and it was only for a month and I just charged them my holiday fee.

[cfred]

Yes. I always charge holding fees now. 1 month fees up front, then $200/month up to 3 months, then full time fees, regardless of start date. One client paid 2 weeks non-refundable. Gave up the spot due to change in circumstances 2 days prior to start date. I kept the money without issue. Had a new client start recently who paid $900 (1 month) non-refundable, then gave post dated cheques for $200 for each of 3 months holding, then started full time early to keep the spot. Have another client who starts in Aug who paid 1 month fees up front a few months ago to hold spot. I didn't charge a monthly fee as the spot is already occupied until the time they need it.

If they want you badly enough, they'll pay it.

[mickyc]

Thanks! I am just cranky and tired and don't feel like wasting my time with someone but I guess I will never know until I actually meet them. Glad to know that others have had success in holding spots. I certainly can't take a huge cut in pay that is why I offered $100 off a month - in reality just charging my holiday rate of $25 a day instead of my full rate of $30. If they booked I will be so happy as it would be excellent but I am just not having much luck in everything we are trying to do lately (sorry - I said I was cranky lol).

[bright sparks]

I had a family pay a 50% retainer from March to October and that was back in 2009, I still look after her youngest now. Some people don't have the luxury of being able to afford it. Even if I could as a parent, I'm not sure I could justify spending that much money for a service I couldn't use or didn't need to use at that time for 6 months. I think a lot of parents would take the risk over forking out a few thousand dollars well in advance even if it meant going with a less then mediocre daycare provider. A couple of months is very different. I have had a couple more pay a 50% retainer but not in the last 18months there has been a sudden increase of daycares opening in my area so it's not like there is limited choice and when you find a good daycare you have to grab the spot while you can even if it means a longer period of paying a retainer to guarantee the spot.

[nschildcare]

cfred... the one month's fees you receive upfront: does that go towards their first month of care or that is the deposit they are paying for you to initially accept them and hold the spot?

I wish I could do this. I have told people that the longest I will hold a spot is 2 months without pay. No one has ever jumped on that to hold a spot, lol.

I think your area will factor in heavily. How many home daycares there are in your area, what you are offering, hours, availability, rates, etc.

[jodaycare]

In January, I had a parent pay to hold a spot until Sept! They paid the whole deposit at once!

[mickyc]

Well it looks like it might not matter! She cancelled on me...sigh...
I did have another person call and she booked a time for tomorrow! Oh I hope it works out. I hate the stress of having open spots!

[cfred]

cfred... the one month's fees you receive upfront: does that go towards their first month of care or that is the deposit they are paying for you to initially accept them and hold the spot?

I wish I could do this. I have told people that the longest I will hold a spot is 2 months without pay. No one has ever jumped on that to hold a spot, lol.

I think your area will factor in heavily. How many home daycares there are in your area, what you are offering, hours, availability, rates, etc.

The one months fees are held against their final month of care. However, should they give up the spot, they forfeit that right and the money. The $200/mo is just money in my pocket. I used that amount to test the waters. I intend to raise that in the future...probably to $400.

My neighbourhood has several home daycares. One is 3 doors over from me in the same townhouse block. Another is a 5 min walk around the corner. I think there's another right on my street as well, not to mention there are 2 daycare centres in schools (one primary and one highschool) - one of them is on the other side of my back yard fence, the other you can see from my driveway. This neighbourhood is saturated with daycares! In this area I think you're right...it comes down to specific services offered, hours and the stars aligning