“How long will my investigation take?” It’s one of the big questions that comes up when people are deciding whether to hire a private eye. The quick answer is we try to complete all investigations within two weeks, but it’s usually faster.
Here’s the long answer:
How long your investigation will take depends on a lot of things. Some of these factors are out of everyone’s control. But we can change the others. And we can have a real impact on the speed of your private investigation.
Let’s find out how.
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Some kinds of investigations take longer
It’s only logical. The more involved types of investigations are likely to take longer.
For example, affair investigations often involve covert surveillance tactics to find out where the suspected cheater is going. If the target usually stay home at night, it might take a while for a good surveillance opportunity to present itself.
It’s also vital to avoid getting caught in surveillance if you want a successful outcome. After all, the goal is to see what someone does when they think nobody’s watching. Your private detective might have to make the decision to stop tailing someone if they think the case is at risk.
A cheating case might also require online checks for alter egos and activity on dating sites. All of this makes for a more involved investigation and affects how long your case will take.
If you think your case is one that is likely to take longer, read on for some ways to help minimise it.
Investigations take longer when it’s harder to find the facts
Let’s say you have a recently discovered half sister you want to find (we really love helping on these kinds of cases). You may only have a first name or a year of birth to go on. It’s possible you’ve already tried to find your sister, but failed. Perhaps other private eyes have tried and got nowhere too.
It makes sense that this investigation is likely to be a tough one. A lack of basic information makes it that much harder to make connections, so it takes longer.
If you find yourself in this situation, don’t lose heart. At Melbourne Investigations we make a special point of the fine details in our missing person searches. Finding people who are tricky to locate is a bit of a specialty for us. If you’ve already tried to find someone but failed, please consider getting in touch with us.
Being well prepared can make your investigation faster
Here’s something you can directly do to make your investigation faster. Try to gather and organise as much information as you can before you hire a private eye.
If it’s documentary evidence, provide us with copies. If it’s information from your memory or other people, write everything down clearly.
Don’t be embarrassed that it’s too much detail or that it’s uncertain. You never know which little clue will enable us to make that key connection which cracks the case. Once, the little details helped us crack a case and locate a man’s father after 10 years of mystery.
The more evidence we have to go on, the less time we have to spend asking you what you know. And the less chance a vital piece will be missed. Your case will flow smoother, faster and have a better chance of success.
Make your investigation faster by being willing to share
Sometimes our customers are reluctant to share everything they know about a case. They may be dealing with shame in a cheating case, or the fear of public exposure of family secrets.
If you need to hire a private investigator, at some point you’ll have to share your secrets. This can be scary.
But you don’t need to worry. Professional investigators are not interested in embarrassing you. We only want to understand everything that might be relevant to help get a faster and more accurate result.
This is where Melbourne Investigations has an advantage. We have a female private investigation manager. She is a deeply compassionate person. She loves listening to our customer’s stories, and is very easy to talk to. This only helps to make the entire case run faster and more smoothly.
There’s no need to be embarrassed. We’re truly on your side. Anything you tell us will be treated with the utmost discretion and respect. In fact, we believe that trust is vital in having a successful investigation case. We’ve heard a lot of secrets in the course of running investigations, and we’ve never exposed them yet.
Make sure you have enough people working on your case
Most private investigation cases just involve one agent. That’s completely fine. Your investigator will work hard to get you the best possible result.
But if speed is a big priority, consider putting more private eyes on the case.
Melbourne Investigations offers a Fast Track option. This is a special service that prioritises your job. You will have three skilled investigators working hard on your case. We aim for a 3-4 day turnaround when possible.
Bumping up the priority and resources assigned to your investigation is an excellent way to minimise how long it will take.
In conclusion
Some things that affect how long an investigation takes are out of your control. But by being prepared and open with information, you will be that much closer to a fast and accurate result. And taking on our Fast Track option will result in an even quicker answer. Feel free to contact Melbourne Investigations for an free, no-obligation chat about your needs.
