Licensed & Insured
This really should be your first order of business when you have found a private investigator that you’d like to use for your needs. Make sure he or she is both licensed and insured to do the work. No private investigator should balk at a request to see proof of their credentials and insurance.
Budget
Determine your budget before you start. Any reputable private investigator should openly discuss the reality of your budget and whether or not it will cover your request. Ask the private investigator what he or she charges hourly or their flat rate. Don’t forget to discuss incidentals such as mileage, database costs, and other potential fees. You should know up front if you will be charged for incidentals on top of the hourly or flat fee.
Skillset That Fits Your Needs
Private investigators are not one size fits all. We each have our own specialty areas and niches. There’s no need to hire a lie detector specialist for a background investigation. We don’t all perform bug sweeps, conduct surveillance, or reconstruct the scenes of car accidents. Find someone whose skillset matches your need.
Experience
If it is witness interviews you are needing for a case, make sure the private investigator you hire has conducted witness interviews. It’s not distasteful to ask a private investigator about their experience and background. Don’t be shy.
Testimonials
Look for testimonials and reviews on Google, their website, Facebook page, or any other potential location. If you can’t find reviews yourself, ask for them. If it’s a private investigator who has been around for quite sometime and has no reviews or testimonials to speak of, it could be a red flag.
Communication
If you have a preferred method and/or timing of communication for the duration of your case, discuss this with your private investigator. Don’t make assumptions. If you want weekly updates via email, ask for weekly updates via email.
Expectations
Determine your expectations, then communicate those to your private investigator. Be specific. It’s best to discuss this up front to give both you and your private investigator a chance to clarify and change expectations if necessary.
Report Format
Do you expect a formal report at the conclusion of your case? Do you need a notarized affidavit? Will an informal emailed conclusion be sufficient or a phone call? Determine your need and communicate that need to the private investigator.
Timeline
I’ve finished cases in two hours and I’ve finished cases in 14 months. If you have an expected or mandatory timeline, you need to ensure your private investigator can deliver within that timeframe. You might decide to take your business elsewhere if he or she can’t even get started on your case for a month.
Legal Issues
Clients and potential clients have asked for specific pieces of information or have asked certain actions of me that are illegal. Most of the time, they were unaware it was illegal when they asked (or I’ve just given them the benefit of the doubt). It’s important that you hire a private investigator who isn’t going to get you into any trouble, put your reputation on the line, or place their work product in jeopardy by obtaining information through illegal or shady means. Hire someone who openly operates on the up and up.
Who Will Be Conducting Investigation
Ask who will be conducting your investigation. Will it be the private investigator himself or herself? Will it be a different employee of the company? Will any portion of your case be subcontracted out to other private investigators? These are all good questions to ask.
Contract
Don’t operate without a signed contract. Just don’t. It protects you. It protects the private investigator. It also puts into writing much of what has been discussed in this article so there are no surprises throughout or at the end of your case.