Why is it so hard to pick a private investigator?
Finding a good private investigator can be tough. If you know someone who can recommend one, you're already ahead. But if not, the process can be extremely overwhelming. Balancing cost with the need for accurate information is challenging. Here's a list of options, some better than others.
Word of Mouth - very solid option
Word of mouth is very valuable, but finding someone who has hired a private investigator is rare. You typically don't know they did! If you have any friends who work for law firms, they are a good place to start for recommendations. This option will give you lots of confidence in the investigator and overall you'll feel better about it. To be fair, this won't ensure you get the best investigator but it stands to reason you'll feel very comfortable with the one you get.
Social Media - good option
LinkedIn is a great place to find a private investigator and to evaluate them directly. Even if you don't know much about what it takes to be a private investigator, you'll find that understanding their credentials, writing style, social-proof, etc. can alleviate some stress. Usually their websites don't feature the investigators, so this is a home run in that area.
Google Search - difficult option
Searching online, you'll find thousands of options. This one can sometimes be a bit deceiving, because a little money can get a private investigator a great website but literally has almost nothing to do with their skills. Some of the best investigators have terrible websites. You'll find yourself judging their website quality, terms, costs, but unable to decide if they are truly skilled. Some have testimonials which are great, but not all. Many list numerous services, but excelling in all of them is rare. A lot of their sites are very outdated and hard to navigate. You'll also usually need to schedule consultations, which can be time-consuming.
Review Engines - good option but very limited
Yelp and Google reviews can help, but they aren't comprehensive as most investigators aren't using them. You'll definitely find many 5-star reviews, which is certainly worth something, but these reviews often don't provide the full picture. Definitely use this to support your decisions, though.
Other Service Applications - decent option but very limited
Services like Bark and Thumbtack provide options, but it's still a hunt and they aren't really designed to deliver on the private investigaion front. Almost all of them seem to be offering the same services nationwide. This often means they'll be outsourcing your work, adding another layer of ambiguity to the already difficult process. Don't get me wrong, outsourcing is often totally fine, but it's more to consider on your end. Of the two, Thumbtack’s user experience is solid. Bark may seriously overwhelm you with calls. Both have privacy concerns that you'll need to consider.
The Easiest Solution? - most comprehensive option
Pursuut may be offering the best solution in your area. Pursuut takes the best of all the options and presents them in one easy-to-use web application. Pursuut is not a private investigations company; it's a service that private investigators across the United States are signed up for to deliver top-notch results. It's worth checking out their For Individuals page if you're looking to hire a private investigator. If you're a private investigator, you can check out their For Investigators page to see if your skills can be offered.
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