What types of characteristics should the ideal private investigator have?

What types of characteristics should the ideal private investigator have?

Danno Hanks (Private Investigator) gives expert video advice on: What type of education should a private investigator have?; Is there a pre-requisite to be a private investigator?; Do I need to be in good physical shape to be a private investigator? and more...

Besides having an analytical mind, they have to have an open mind. They must not form an opinion in advance about what this case is all about and they must ensure an open mind as to where it might be going. You're not always going to prove your clients' point. In the case of insurance investigations, the insurance companies make it very, very clear. They're not out to catch the guy, but they're out to find out what the truth is. If it turns out that their guys' claim is legitimate, they want to know that, because either way they save money. If it turns out that this guy really has a back injury and can't work, they don't spend a fortune defending the case in court. Now they switch to the mode of coming to a settlement and ultimately spend less money. If it turns out he is a crook, then they go after him because it deters other people from trying to do the same thing. So either way they're ahead of the game, but the main goal is to find out the truth and that's what a private investigator has to do. He has to keep an open mind so that he can find out the truth.