Need a background check on a person before a big transaction? What about checking up on what an individual is up to? If that’s the case, then you need help from a private investigator. Hiring one can cost a lot of money, so you have to make sure you’re paying someone that actually knows how to do their job well.
With so many private investigators offering their services, you’re probably worrying if you’re actually paying someone worth your money. Here is a quick guide to the qualities of a good private investigator that could help you narrow down your search for the right guy to hire. These tips are provided by veteran Great Neck NY private investigator, Darrin Giglio, lead investigator for NAI.
- A good PI has the right skill set
The first thing you need to remember is that there’s no such thing as the ultimate PI. Different private investigators come from different backgrounds, which mean they also have different skill sets that may or may not work for the task at hand. For example, those with law enforcement backgrounds are great at looking for leads and searching for people, while those with business lawyer backgrounds are better for investigating finances or other business-related accounts.
Take a second look at their background and figure out what PI skills would come in handy. This could make the difference between the amount of information you can get once the job is done.
- A good PI is in the right location
Having the right set of skills to take on the job is good, but they won’t be as fast and efficient if you’re hiring someone a couple of states away from where you are. If you’re hiring a PI to track down someone in New York and you hired someone in Florida, you’d be lucky to have any info at all before your PI gets there.
So how do you know which private investigators are near the area? Surprisingly, a quick Google search should net you a few results. It’s even better if they’re based somewhere you can physically go to in less than an hour since it means you’ll get faster response times (and you get to meet them personally).
- A good PI has the right feedback
Just like with any other service provider, it’s easy to get an idea of how competent private investigators are by looking at customer feedback. If a PI has a website (most of them do), check out the testimonies section to see if they have generally good feedback. The more positive feedback from satisfied clients, the better.
Do keep in mind that good feedback doesn’t mean all feedback should be good. A private investigator with 75% good feedback from 30 clients still holds more credibility than someone who has 100% good feedback from just 5 clients.
- A good PI has the right license
A license is more than just an ID or a certificate; it’s proof that the private investigator has passed the necessary requirements to be considered legitimate. Remember to ask for a licensing number that you can check with the local licensing body just to be sure. If the license is expired, it means they’re no longer recognized as a private investigator that passed local standards, and you’re better off looking for other PIs
This one depends on the state, so you have to check your local state laws regarding licensing requirements for private investigators. In some areas, licenses are also voluntary, but it’s still better to hire someone that has a voluntary license.
Finding a good private investigator may take some research on your part, but looking for these four qualities should help you speed up your search.
