Gold is arguably the best investment you can make. Perhaps you are thinking about joining in but aren’t sure where to begin. If this applies to you, you’re in good hands. In this article we will present excellent advice on investing in gold.
Try to only buy and sell your gold to certain dealers that are recognized through official gold and money associations. These dealers must follow strict guidelines under these organizations to ensure that you get fair compensation or quality pieces. One such well-known organization is the ANA or American Numismatic Association.
If you decide to go with a mail in service to sell your gold, make sure to have your items insured. If the items do not arrive at the buyer’s location, you could lose out on the entire value of your gold. By insuring the items, you are protecting yourself against loss or theft.
If you need money in a pinch, sell your gold to a pawn shop. You won’t get the best rates from a pawn shop, but it’s highly unlikely they’ll look the other way with any gold you bring into them. If speed is of an essence, it’s probably your best bet.
Separate jewelry by their karat values before getting an offer. A lot of times, gold buyers will try to give you a price for the lowest karat and lump everything together. Think of that and make a point of separating your pieces according to karat, so you’ll get a better price.
Do you have an allergy to nickel? If so, you are better off getting jewelry that has a higher gold content, like 18 or 22 karat gold. Items that have a higher gold content are less likely to cause an allergic reaction. You should also stay away from gold plated jewelry.
Before taking your gold to sell, research the buyer. Most reputable dealers will be members of the American Numismatic Association. These dealers are held to a higher standard of ethics and must follow certain criteria when purchasing gold from individuals. To ensure you get the most money for your gold, make sure to use a dealer who is part of this association.
Whenever you’re looking at selling scrap jewelry or gold it is best to explore many different companies to know the offers are legitimate. Even though the market “spot” gold price is the national standard, not all stores will pay it. Stores located apart from larger shopping centers may have fewer fixed costs and are thus, able to pay higher prices.
Know what you have. Some items are worth way more than the actual price of the gold they are made from. This is especially true for antique coins or jewelry. Oftentimes gold jewelry features highly sought after gems in the setting too. That could make the item a lot more valuable.
Always purchase gold jewelry from a jeweler you can trust. You would be surprised at how many jewelers try to sell fake gold or lower-karats at a high-karat price. Ask friends or family members if they know of a good jeweler. Or, you can go online and look at reviews for jewelers.
Be extra cautious when using a mail-away service for selling your gold. Always buy shipping insurance for your items. Know how long the dealer will hold your pieces before melting them, and know how long you have to accept or reject their offer. And keep an inventory with pictures of all the items you’ve sent.
When selling your gold, realize that jewelers use a different scale system than others. For example, one ounce of gold will weigh 31.1 grams. Some businesses weigh by the pennyweight, which is 1.555 grams. Then, they purchase by the gram instead of the pennyweight, which can result in them underpaying you.
Research the market price of gold before you attempt to sell yours. You should also look around to see what other people are asking for similar pieces. This allows you to get an idea of what you should be asking for. Ask for more than you are happy to accept so that the buyer has room to negotiate the price.
If you are interested in reaping the benefits of selling gold but do not have any gold to sell yourself, consider organizing a gold party. This is a party where you invite your friends and family to sell their gold pieces. You invite an appraiser to make the purchases, and you receive proceeds from the profits earned.
Investing in gold is not just for the smart seasoned investor, rather it can be for anyone looking for a safe place to put their money. After reading the tips in this article, you can rest assured that you will make wise decisions. These concepts and ideas can be referred back to whenever necessary.
