Think about what a private investigator does, and the image probably comes to mind of someone rifling through FBI files or hiding in bushes with binoculars on a stakeout. Unfortunately, the life of a private investigator isn't quite how it appears on TV. Thanks to television and movies, people get ideas about what private investigators can do that are flat out wrong.

If you're interested in securing the services of a private investigator, here are three things you need to know that aren't how most people think.

Wrong idea #1: Being a private investigator is just about being sneaky

Sneaking around isn't something that most private investigators do a whole lot of. What's is being one about then? It's about knowing how to find information, and it takes a decent amount of schooling to become a professional one. The US Department of Labor estimates there are just under 35,000 private investigators in the entire United States, so it's a profession that's pretty uncommon. Investigators have to be very well versed in local and national laws, have to be trained communicators, have to be constantly staying on top of the latest technology, and have to be someone that's perfectly fine working alone.

Wrong idea #2: You can get the same information from a web site, so save your money

There are lots of web sites that offer to do a background check on someone or offer to find someone's hidden secrets for as little as $20. The thing is, most of those sites just pull information from already available online sources. So you're paying for information you likely could have easily found on your own for free. These sites don't even come close to finding what a human investigator could.

Wrong idea #3: A private investigator can get information not available to anyone else

Because private investigators are so good at what they do, people may think they have access to secured files or records. The truth is, a private investigator doesn't have access to any special information. Anyone can get the information they find. An investigator just knows how to access information and has access to people that know how. Many times, a private investigator is hired to find information that could potentially lead to legal proceedings. And if information is obtained illegally, it would likely be inadmissible in court.

If you are thinking about hiring a private investigator, make sure you know what you're paying for. You're hiring someone that's specially trained in the art of information (and how to get it). Hire the right private investigator, and you'll likely be surprised at what information they can legally find!

For more information regarding private investigations, contact businesses like ICU Investigations.