The surge in popularity of gold buying and selling in recent years is likely the result of the perfect storms of financial insecurity and economic turbulence. If investing in gold is something you have intended to learn more about, you have come to the right place. Continue on for some terrific tips that you can put to use right away.
Before buying or selling gold, look into the market price for gold for the day. There are daily fluctuations on price for precious metals, so it’s important for you to know what the current going rate is. This will help you understand whether the dealer is overpriced or fair in the offers made to you.
Before selling your gold to an establishment, make sure that they are a reputable seller. Check with your Better Business Bureau to make sure that they have given fair prices to people. You don’t want to sell your gold to someone who will cheat you out of the precious gold you’re selling.
When buying gold through a private sale, always test to make sure that the gold is real. There are many pieces of jewelry that are gold plated. In order to make sure you are buying the real deal, invest in a gold testing kit. They are not expensive and can save you from buying fools gold.
Do not go to a pawn shop if you have gold to sell. You will not get as much for your gold as you would if you went to a gold dealer. A pawn shop will try to give you the minimum amount so they can make the maximum profit.
Once you decide to sell your gold, start your search with local dealers. Go into a store and get a ballpark figure for your pieces. From there, you can begin checking online and in other shops to see where you can get the most bang for your buck. Get at least four to five quotes before you go forward with a sale.
All investments come with a certain amount of risk, and gold is no different. To help limit your risk when selling gold, ask for referrals from friends or family members who have sold gold in the past. They may be able to steer you toward a reputable gold buyer.
Go into selling your gold with a realistic attitude. Some people think a few pieces are going to net them thousands of dollars, but realistically there are many factors in play. The items may not be pure gold, or they could even be plated. Consider an appraisal to understand what you really have.
Many people find purchasing gold stocks is a wise investment for their portfolio. When stock of companies lose value, the value of gold stocks rise so this provides some protection for their long term investments. Many investment counselors are now recommending inclusion of precious metal stocks in long term retirement accounts.
Before you sell gold, put it in different karat weights. A vendor may scam you by weighing what you have together by the lowest weight in karat. This of course results in fewer dollars for you. Be safe and maximize your value by having all the gold separated before dealing with the buyer.
When in doubt, get it checked out. There are some great knock-off gold pieces out there that really look like the real deal, but are infact fake. The best way to not get duped is by investing in a gold testing kit, or taking the gold piece in question to the pawn shop.
You must understand what is meant by a karat when you are buying or selling gold. Gold is a relatively soft metal so it is normally mixed with other metals to improve durability. A karat is the measure of how much of your metal is gold. Twenty-four karat is almost pure gold while ten karat is about half gold.
Do not buy gold coins that are for sale at the pawn shops in your area. Chances are you will pay a lot more for them here than you would anywhere else. It is best to look for a reputable gold dealer to do business with, so you know you are getting the best deal.
If you have a piece of gold jewelry that has some history to it, or has been in your family for as long as you can remember have it looked at. The melt value might be really low, but there could be someone out there willing to pay a higher price for the intact piece of jewelry.
The concept of using gold as a way to consolidate and protect personal wealth is nothing new, but the immense interest in this investment vehicle in recent years has taken some by surprise. If gold investing appeals to you, it is important that you arm yourself with expert advice. Using this article as a foundation is a great way to have begun.
