Hiring a private investigator is not merely a matter of finding the most popular or affordable investigator in your area. If you are in need for such services because of something you care deeply about, there are other equally important factors you should also take into consideration.

License
Narrow your list to licensed private investigators. Those with licenses tend to have more experience and credentials. A permit to operate as private investigator also allows them greater freedom in their work as well as greater access to various resources, two things that unlicensed private investigators won’t be able to provide.

Insurance
This may be more of a safety precaution than a necessity, but it’s truly better to hire an insured private investigator than one who isn’t. In the event that something does happen, you can at least feel assured he will not hold you liable.

Past Clients
The process of looking for a private investigator is similar to what you would normally do when you’re looking for a suitable applicant. For one thing, you should ask about the previous cases or investigations they’ve completed. Who had they worked for? How did they fare? Would they be able to supply references you can verify?

Experience
Experience comes in various forms, and it’s important that you hire a private investigator with the exact kind of experience you need. The number of years he has dedicated to the business is important, but it isn’t all that matters. You want to be more specific: exactly how many cases has he handled that are similar to or exactly the same with yours? How had he fared in those cases?

This is also where specialization enters the picture. Specialization is something you can only build with time and experience. Look for a private investigator with knowledge and skills pertinent to your case. If you are searching for a corporate private investigator, look for one who may have also worked previously as a corporate manager or at least one who’s greatly familiar with the ins and outs of doing business.

Time Frame
Last but not the least, always ask for a time frame! Being able to give an estimate time of completion as well as letting you know the kind of results you can expect to receive in that period is what separates the amateurs from the pros. And as hiring private investigators can be quite costly – they can charge you from $65 to $200 per hour – it’s better to know approximately how much you’ll have to pay them on the outset.

image credits to moriza

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