A background check can provide you with very important information about an individual. For example, if you’re a hiring manager evaluating a candidate, you would likely want to know if they have a criminal record. Conducting a full background check will answer your questions.

That said, you’ll likely never be in a position to conduct a background check yourself. You need certain expertise to ensure a check is genuinely thorough. It’s also essential that you understand the legal restrictions that sometimes apply to a background search. There are instances in which you could theoretically violate someone’s privacy without intending to because you weren’t familiar with the applicable laws. Thus, instead of looking into someone’s background on your own, you should enlist the help of a company that offers background check services.

When evaluating your options, it’s important to keep certain factors in mind. You’ll simply get the best results when you make an informed decision. The following points will help you do so.

Understand the Different Types of Background Checks

Not all background reports are the same. It’s smart to consider what type of background search you need when considering which background check companies to work with.

For example, an employment background check typically serves to ensure hiring a candidate will not result in an unsafe workplace environment. Employers coordinate with authoritative background check companies to research a candidate’s history, looking for key warning signs.

That said, this is not the only instance when someone may wish to conduct a background check to learn if a person has committed any relevant crimes in the past. Landlords often conduct background checks to guard against renting rooms to tenants who may put their other tenants at risk. A similar background check might also be required before someone can purchase a firearm.

It’s also worth noting that not all background searches involve looking into someone’s criminal record. There are also circumstances when a background check may serve to provide other valuable information. An example would be an employer conducting a background check to confirm a job candidate is legally permitted to work in the United States. Some employers and organizations also use background checks to determine if candidates post any content on social media that indicates they aren’t a good fit for a particular role.

Remember this when assessing background check companies. You want to use a service that offers the type of background report you need. For example, if you want to learn more about someone’s social media usage, you might choose an online background check company that specializes in this type of report, such as PeopleLooker. On the other hand, the online background check company TruthFinder may be a better choice if you’re interested in learning about someone’s criminal history.

Just keep in mind that the information a background check may provide isn’t necessarily restricted to details about someone’s criminal history, social media behavior, or legal employment qualifications. Again, although different types of background checks will provide different types of information, you could use a background check to confirm details about a person’ academic history, financial situation, professional certifications (as well as any disciplinary actions associated with them), and much more. This once again highlights the importance of carefully assessing your options when deciding which background service is ideal for your goals. You want to be certain the final report will provide the information you’re interested in.

Understand How Long a Background Check May Take

The amount of information you want a background check to include will naturally affect how long the process of generating the report will take. That said, you want to strike a balance when determining whether a company’s estimated turnaround time is sufficient for your plans. You obviously want the background check to be as thorough as necessary, but you don’t want to spend more time waiting for the report to be generated than you have to.

There are many practical reasons for this. For example, if you’re conducting a background check to determine if a job candidate should be hired, the longer you make them wait before hearing if you’re planning on offering the job, the better the odds they might grow impatient and seek employment elsewhere. Organizations also typically sustain unnecessary costs when positions remain vacant for long periods of time.

That said, the amount of time it takes to conduct a background check may be shorter than you assume. Many background checks can in fact be completed in under a week. Those which require a high degree of thoroughness, such as FBI checks, may take up to a month to perform.

Once again, you simply need to keep in mind the importance of vetting your options when choosing a background check company. Some providers claim they can generate reports almost instantly. This is because they often rely on instant databases that frequently contain errors. Although it is true that some background check companies operate more efficiently than others, it’s smart to look into their reputation before deciding to work with such a company.

Recommended Background Check Services

These are some of the most recommended background check services:

• PeopleLooker
• TruthFinder
• BeenVerified

Understand the Costs

You’ll certainly want to account for your budget when deciding which background check service to use. Again, this is an instance when you need to strike a balance between spending what you can afford, without settling for an inferior service simply because it’s cheap.

Background check costs can vary. If you’re merely checking someone’s credit history, you should typically expect to spend between $25 and $35. If you’re conducting a criminal background check, costs usually range between $25 and $100. What you end up spending will depend on the amount of information included in the final report.

You may find that some companies claim to offer free background checks. Once more, if someone offers a free background check, you should do your research to confirm they have a strong reputation. You want the best background check you can afford. If getting the best background check requires spending money, the strength and accuracy of the information it offers will be worth the investment.

Know the Reasons to Run a Background Check

There are several reasons to conduct a background check that you may not have considered. Perhaps you’re a landlord or employer who could potentially be held liable if you were to put others in danger because you accepted a tenant or hired a job candidate without performing a background search first. There may be instances when performing a background check is key to ensuring you’re in full compliance with the law. If you’re a parent, you might understandably want to learn more about a person’s history before deciding to hire them as a babysitter. If someone is asking you to invest in their business, a background check can tell you whether you can trust them to use your money responsibly. Background checks may also be used in litigation if you’re ever involved in a lawsuit (although you would typically trust your attorney to decide whether a background check is necessary).

Those are merely a few examples. Essentially, there may come a time in your life when you need the assistance of a background check service. Keeping all these points in mind when that happens will boost your odds of choosing the right one.