There are many reasons that you may be looking for the services of a private investigator. Maybe you need to trace someone who cannot be found, or perhaps you need to carry out background investigations on a potential business associate before entering into an agreement with them.
Whatever your reasons for needing the services of a private investigator, it’s vital that you choose the best investigator for the job. But you may be wondering whether to choose local private investigators or to use a national PI agency. Here we’ll explain how to find the best local private investigators near you.
Benefits of Hiring Local Investigators
Hiring a local investigator for your investigation offers a wide range of benefits, these include:
- In-depth knowledge of the local area.
- Faster access to state records to gather background information.
- The ability to conduct more thorough surveillance as the investigator is already in the area.
- Costs are often lower as less travel and accommodation costs are incurred during the course of the investigation.
Common Cases Handled by PIs
Private investigators handle a wide variety of cases. Here are some examples of cases commonly handled by private investigators:
- Embezzlement – private investigators are often hired to investigate potential embezzlement of funds from businesses by individuals within the company.
- Background checks – a private investigator is often used to conduct background checks on individuals. This is often carried out before separate parties go into business together.
- Personal injury claims – private investigators can investigate personal injury claims in cases where a fraudulent claim is suspected.
- Fraud – corporate fraud is unfortunately a common occurrence. Where corporate fraud is suspected, private investigators can help to uncover it by investigating individuals and working with forensic accountants to examine evidence related to the suspected fraud.
Qualities to Look for in a PI
Choosing a private investigator is something you should never simply rush into. It is absolutely essential to choose the best private investigator for the job. Investigations carried out by PIs are almost always delicate and involve the use of highly-sensitive information. So, before you give away key details, it’s important to ensure that you have chosen the best private investigator for your investigation. With this in mind, here are some of the qualities to look for in a PI:
- High levels of experience in the world of private investigation;
- A proven track record of successfully investigating cases;
- State licensing;
- A background in a relevant area, for example law enforcement, to provide additional knowledge to benefit the investigation;
- An in-depth knowledge of the local area, so that any surveillance that may be required can be carried out swiftly and accurately;
- Testimonials from other clients who have used the investigator;
- A willingness to listen to the background information you provide and to understand what you hope to achieve from the investigation;
- The ability and resources to conduct a full investigation;
- The availability to get to work on the case quickly.
Understanding PI Services
Before you hire a private investigator, it’s important to understand what PI services can do for you. Private investigators are hired by many industries from retailers to law firms to assist them with often delicate investigations.
PI services often include:
- Locating people;
- Carrying out background checks;
- Tracing assets;
- Investigating personal injury claims;
- Due dilligence;
- Corporate fraud investigations.
Cost Considerations for Investigations
Cost can be a concern when you are hoping to hire a private investigator. So, it’s important to keep this in mind when you are choosing a private investigator to take on your case.
Choosing an investigator based solely on price doesn’t necessarily mean that you will get a better or worse service. However, one key consideration to keep in mind that will impact the cost of your investigation is the location.
If the private investigator needs to travel outside their local area to work on your case, this is going to significantly increase the cost. You will need to take into account the cost of their travel, the cost of accommodation, and other related expenses. This is before you have even considered the amount you will be charged for the extra time the investigation will take if the PI has to travel further afield to work on your case.
When it comes to cost, local private investigators can often provide you with the best service, without the added expenses involved in traveling to complete the investigation.
Local Vs. National PI Agencies
If you’re unsure whether to choose a local or national PI agency to handle your case, it’s helpful to consider the following factors:
- Will local knowledge benefit your case?
- Does your case involve surveillance of individuals in the local area?
- Are you hoping for the investigation to be completed in a timely manner, without potential delays caused by travel time?
- Do you want to try and keep the cost of the investigation under control?
If the answer to these questions is yes, the chances are that a local private investigation agency will provide you with the services you need.
Tips for a Successful Investigation
There are a few ways you can ensure your investigation is successful. Firstly, you need to choose the best PI to carry out the investigation. This will be the most fundamental factor in the success of your investigation. Choose an investigator with proven experience to assist you and your case should be investigated and resolved more quickly. Selecting a local private investigator is often the best choice so that you benefit from their local knowledge, ability to carry out surveillance promptly, and lower travel expenses.
Secondly, it’s important to provide the investigator with as much information as you have about the case. Even details that seem irrelevant to you can be helpful to the investigator.
If you’re looking for a local private investigator, The Cobalt Agency is here for you. With extensive knowledge of the local area and high levels of experience and expertise, we’re here to help with all your investigative needs.
