There comes a time when you’ll need to hire a detective to help you gather evidence for a case, do surveillance, or conduct background checks on a few people that you’re doing business with. And when you do, you can’t just hire the first person you meet online. Since private detective work is a serious matter, it’s best to look into these five crucial factors before you make the final decision:
- License. You can’t gather evidence for a legal battle and leave the task to someone not recognized and licensed by the law. Almost every state—except for Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Mississippi, South Dakota, and Wyoming—requires all private investigation agencies to be fully licensed, bonded, and insured to protect the interests of their clients. A license is also an excellent indicator of whether a private detective knows their job.
- Reputation. Anyone can say they are a private detective, but only those who built their reputation on results are the real deal. Before hiring a detective, look into their background, especially the number of clients they have worked with and the cases they have solved over the years. Reputation is everything in private investigation, so conduct your research before jumping on an offer.
- Experience. Private investigation takes a lot of on-the-job experience, and the best detectives have either been previously in law enforcement or invested in training that allows them to understand the in-betweens of the industry. Every move here should be calculated because one mistake could make you lose substantial evidence or get you into more trouble. So, it’s only fitting that you trust a private detective who knows precisely what needs to be done to help you out.
- Tools. A good private detective knows it takes more than their eyes and ears to gather evidence or do a background check. Any successful investigative work requires the right tools, so you must look into what the detective uses for their investigations. Don’t be afraid to ask a potential candidate about their process and the tools they use to get the information you need effectively. Of course, everything has to be done legally. Otherwise, the evidence will not be honored in court.
- Communication. Never hire a detective who doesn’t know how to communicate well with you. Successful detectives are good communicators because they have to use this skill to get any information they need. When you meet with a potential candidate, always observe if they can communicate well with you. This is a good indicator that they will also be able to communicate effectively with people whom they can gather evidence from.
At the end of the day, hiring the right private detective will give you a considerable advantage, especially when you’re going to court. Keep these five important factors in mind so you can hire a detective that suits your needs well and delivers the desired results. If you still have a few questions, make sure to get in touch with Global Intelligence Consultants, Inc. We’ll help you find the right private investigator for you.