6 Important Factors to Consider When Choosing a Private Investigator
/Are you thinking of hiring a private investigator? There are a lot of private investigators out there offering their services these days, but choosing the right PI for the job should be a thorough and lengthy task. Here are six factors to consider when hiring a private investigator.
Work Product Examples
Always ask to see an example of what can be expected as far as completed reports, videos, investigations techniques used by the PI, and other final work products. The quality of a written report and photograph, in addition to a video, are going to be the end product that should be professional and well put together. After all, will be the evidence proving or disproving your suspicions that could end up in court, or you might just want to lock away for a day in the future. If this is an important issue to you, you're not going to want mediocre or disorganized.
Price
There's an old saying that goes, "You get what you pay for." The same usually holds true for PI's. In most cases, low price could indicate that the investigator doesn't have a reputation for getting results which enables them to demand higher rates. Or the PI may not have the experience of other more seasoned investigators. Being a budget PI is the only way some investigators know how to get business for themselves. There is usually a hidden price that goes with cheap PI's. Do you want to risk paying that price on the issue for which you're considering hiring a private investigator? Low price can attract you to their services. However, once the detective gets on the case, will he have the experience or know how to get results?
Experience
Experience goes hand-in-hand with price. A lengthy law enforcement background can be an advantage for a private investigator when it comes to things like credibility and knowing how to think on your feet and get to the bottom of difficult cases. On the other hand, being a former federal agent who spent most of one's career conducting white-collar investigations that dragged on for years doesn't necessarily mean one knows how to get to the bottom of a cheating spouse or child custody investigation. Take a hard look at the experience offered by every PI to ensure you hire the most competent investigator.
State-of-the-art Real-time GPS Trackers
GPS trackers aren't useful in all investigations, but there are several scenarios where they can be invaluable. GPS trackers, when used by authorized persons in a legal manner, can often quickly and safely bring a case to an end. GPS trackers don't tell the whole truth about exactly who is or isn't doing what with who but compared to not having them, real-time GPS trackers can reduce person-hours and reduce the risks of the investigation being compromised. In addition, GPS tracking laws vary by state, so be weary of investigators who offer illegal GPS tracking services, or who claim that there is no liability when placing a tracker on someone's vehicle.
Choosing a Private Investigator Based on a Single Telephone Call
Request to meet the investigator in person at their office. Make sure they are fortunate enough to have an office and staff and that they're not running the business out of a Starbucks or McDonald's. Additionally, by meeting them in person, you'll be able to get a better feel for the investigator’s level of integrity; whether they seem to have an understanding regarding your case and whether they seem physically capable of getting the job done. Additionally, make sure the PI has a professional website, email address and telephone number. In this day and age, anyone offering an "@aol.com" email address or failing to have a website simply does not care about maintaining a professional image. For example, you can reach Stealth Advise via email at info@stealthadvise.com, by phone at (920) 777-iSPY, or on the web at www.stealthadvise.com.
License
If you want to be sure you're hiring a competent professional, make sure the state permits them to conduct private investigations. Many states like Wisconsin require investigators to be licensed and insured. WI also requires that all PI's take a pass an annual PI exam, and well as submit their fingerprints to the FBI on an annual basis to ensure a clean criminal record. You can easily check to see if an investigator is licensed by visiting this site:
https://app.wi.gov/licensesearch
Adam Quirk, MCJ & MBA
Adam Quirk is a licensed private investigator in the State of Wisconsin, as well as the proud owner of Stealth Advise. Adam has over 15 years of investigations experience, and Masters degrees in Criminology (MCJ) and Business Administration (MBA).