The hiring of a Private Investigator is an easy task if you know what to look for in a professional investigator. Below are a few tips in helping you with your decision.

What expectations should I have?
Should the PI agency be licensed?
Should the PI agency have insurance?
How does experience play a roll?
Do I have to meet the Private Investigator in person?
What type of personal information should I give the agency?
What type of budget should I have?
Disclaimer

What expectations should I have?
Many people have unrealistic expectations of investigators, especially if they are hiring an investigator for the first time. To avoid disappointment and possibly wasting your money, you need to discuss with the investigator what she/he thinks can be accomplished by the investigation that you have in mind. This discussion would include any limitations that the investigator feels are involved. The investigator should be able to draw on their experiences in other types of investigation to give you an idea of the likelihood of whether the type of investigation that you are interested in will give you the results you are seeking.

Should the PI agency be licensed?
Make sure the Agency you are interviewing posses a State issued license. Most states throughout the country require an agency to obtain a license. This requires the individual to have previous experience and ensures the public that some sort of State Facility overseas the Investigative Agencies Operations.  Private Investigators are required to be licensed in the state of Florida.

Should the PI agency have insurance?
Make sure the agency has Liability Insurance. In some states this is not required, however any professional in this industry knows the risks involved and would be foolish not to protect themselves as well as their clients. If you work with an agency that does not have insurance you put yourself at risk as well. Keep in mind that just because it’s not required doesn’t mean it’s not available. If an agency has insurance and absorbs the cost even when its not required this is a sign of a serious professional that doesn’t cut corners.

How does experience play a roll?
Experience is also very important. An experienced Private Investigator knows the local and state laws and has been trained to conduct the investigation accordingly to guarantee the integrity of the results.

Do I have to meet the Private Investigator in person?
It’s not necessary to met with a prospective agency in person. Most hiring procedures can be done over the phone, any contracts can be faxed or e-mailed and payment can be made through credit cards or money transfers.

What type of personal information should I give the agency?
No matter how embarrassing it may sound, it is imperative that the investigator know all the facts pertaining to the investigation.  Be sure to have as much information on your target as possible including full physical descriptions, photos, vehicle information, arrest history etc. The more information the investigator has to find to start the investigation the more money and time it will cost you in the long run.

What type of budget should I have?
Most agencies have an hourly fee and a minimum retainer that they require prior to accepting a case. The hourly rate charged by investigators varies a great deal, depending on the region and the expertise of the investigator/agency.

It is imperative that you thoroughly discuss costs and reach an understanding with the investigator as to the proposed budget prior to beginning an investigation. Once the initial budget is agreed upon, it should be put in writing either in the form of a retainer agreement or an engagement letter.

The investigator may not be able to tell you exactly how much the investigation will cost. It is often not easy to predict the cost of investigation because there are usually a number of unknown variables involved. This is part of the reason why you need an investigator in the first place.

To control costs and avoid unanticipated expense, it is best to set an initial budget (with input from the investigator as to what is realistic for the type of investigation that you desire) with a requirement that the investigator not exceed the initial budget without authorization from you. Usually the investigator will give you a verbal report or a status report regarding the findings when the initial budget is reached and then you can decide if you want to continue with the investigation.
Don’t judge the professional you hire based on his low prices. If an agency offers a service substantially lower than the average agency or the other companies that you have already interviewed BEWARE! This could be a sign of several RED FLAGS. Does he have little or no experience? Is he licensed & Insured? An agency spends hundreds of dollars a year in licensing fees. Insurance, corporation fees and keeping up with technology, this business cost a lot to run. If he is undercutting the industry you should ask yourself and the agency, WHY?

Disclaimer:
Any/all agencies listed on this site are independently owned and operated.  Therefore, catchthosecheaters.com and their affiliates are neither responsible nor liable for the actions of any of the agencies or employees of said agency listed on this site.  As always, you should use common sense, caution, and conduct your own research prior to hiring any agencies listed on this website.