DO YOUR RESEARCH FIRST?

"Oh my gosh, you're an investigator?  I bet that is so exciting!"

It's not like the movies! As a consumer, we base our expectations based upon our knowledge source, and until one has a need to engage the services of a professional investigator, that source of knowledge is usually television and movies.  Right now, let's clear that up.  The work done by private investigators in the movies and in novels usually bears very little resemblance to the real life work of today's professional investigator.  In fact, professional investigators outside of the surveillance sector of our industry, do most of their work over the telephone, or on the internet and in offices instead of back alleys, and bars as is so often portrayed in movies. 

Investigators are hired for a wide variety of reasons, but when the investigation is done, what you want in return for your investment is useful, accurate information.  This holds true, whether you are hiring an investigator to prove your spouse is having an affair, or to investigate a workman's compensation or auto accident claim.  The goal is for you to obtain the information that you need to assist you in making a life decision.  However, it's important to realize that a ethical investigator does not set out to prove a case; instead they seek to learn the facts and provide you with a report.  Those facts may or may not support your foregone conclusion or suspicions.

BEFORE YOU HIRE

Prior to making the decision to hire an investigator, determine the goal of the investigation.  What do you want to find out?  The more prepared you are when you meet your prospective investigator, the better prepared your investigator will be when he begins your case.  A rule of thumb is to give the investigator the information that you know already, along with what you suspect.  See our sample information forms for some general guidelines on how to prepare to meet your investigator.
 

During your interview with the private investigator, it's important that you feel at ease and to feel that he understands the importance of your case.  Expect the investigator to ask you several questions about your case, perhaps some about you as well.  Investigators ask questions as a profession and the investigator needs to feel assured that the information he gathers is not going to be used for unethical purposes to harm someone. 

• Feel free to ask the investigator for references and about their experience.  You want to make sure that your investigator has experience in the type of case that you have.  As an example, if the majority of the work that the investigator is involved in is domestic investigations, they may not be suited for a fire investigation.
   

• Is the Investigator Licensed?  Is he/she licensed, insured and bonded?  If your state requires a license, ask to see verification that he is licensed. The vast majority of our states require that investigators be licensed.
   

• Ask the Question.  Does the investigator have the time to invest in your case?  What is his/her present work load and will they be able to work your case?  Nothing is more frustrating than to hire someone, whether it be an attorney or an investigator to discover that they are too busy for your case.
   

• Expect to pay a retainer for the work that is to be done.  Retainers are deposits that hour charges are billed against.  Know your budget!  Investigations are difficult to predict how much it will cost, because of the nature of the work, so it's important to establish some communication regarding a budget.
   

• Get a contract that indicated what services the investigator will be providing to you that details the costs basis.

SHOULD I BE WORRIED IF THE INVESTIGATOR WORKS FROM HOME?

You will no doubt encounter some investigators who have "home offices" and may ask to meet you at a restaurant, library or other place to discuss your case. The nature of the business lends itself to a part-time vocation for people who have retired from other careers and may not want to work full time, or may not have the need for a public business office.  It's the skill set that you are hiring and whether or not your investigator works from home versus an office park office setting is relative only to what you think about it.

IS PRIOR LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPERIENCE NEEDED?

While some investigators have retired from a career in law enforcement and become private investigators, the majority of investigators working today do not have prior law enforcement experience.  In fact, depending upon the nature of the investigation, the  work may not be related at all when you consider the day to day duties of a  patrol officer writing traffic tickets  versus what is required to negotiate an investigation in the private sector. Private Investigators do not have a "badge" and therefore must formulate a different approach toward obtaining the required information.