Many people look towards the gold market as a means to keep their investment portfolio safe. Gold is considered by many to be a solid choice if you are looking for a stable investment even when the general economy is rocky. Just check out the handy tips below to learn how to take full advantage of your own opportunities for gold investing.
Gold’s price is always changing, which makes it important to know your piece’s value before selling it. If you choose to sell gold, weigh and value pieces that have different karat values separately. Never sell any jewelry as gold scraps that’s worth more than the gold itself due to the designer.
Think about having your jewelry appraised if you are not sure of it’s true value. Even though it is an extra expense, it can be well worth the investment. An independent appraiser should be used in order to receive the best value. When selling gold jewelry, you will receive only a percentage of the appraised value.
Melt Value
When it comes to selling gold, you must decide if you are going to sell it just for its melt value or as a jewelry piece. Many private buyers and pawn shops are only willing to give the melt value. Don’t get discouraged if you are looking to sell jewelry, as buyers are still out there.
Check the prices of golds the day you plan to buy. You can find that on a lot of websites, and that can change every day. When you do buy, avoid more than an 8% markup. While many companies attempt to charge more, this is simply not ethical and should be viewed with caution.
No matter the excitement gold buying brings, do not spread the word. You don’t know who to trust or who is listening. Do not tell others about your investment, and keep it locked up either in a home safe or at a bank. This will keep you and your gold protected under any circumstances.
Do your research before selling gold. Also, ask around to find out how much similar pieces are going for. This is a price point that you can work with. In order to be able to negotiate, you ought to give a price above the amount you really want.
One option when selling your gold is to send it away in the mail. Many people prefer this option because it is really easy. You put jewelry in a prepaid envelope and you’ll eventually get a check. Places that use this option usually pay a lesser amount. In some cases, you could get about 30 percent less for an item, so just be aware.
Gold can often be a lucrative but volatile investment. If you’re not ready for a roller coaster ride, gold investing is probably not for you. Even if you are okay with taking the risk, you need to prevent downside risks. Never invest more than a sliver of your total portfolio in gold. Stick to a limit of five percent.
Great news for gold owners: gold has gone up in price over 400 percent in the last decade. Nobody really knows when the best time to purchase gold is, as it mainly relies on the price of the dollar. When the dollar loses value, the value of gold increases.
Map out your goals prior to investing in gold. Although gold can add a nice balance to your portfolio in case of rough economic times, it is still considered an investment that fluctuates wildly. If you keep yourself protected, you’ll end up making more money with your gold.
Getting into gold isn’t that hard if you understand the ins and outs of the market. Now that you know some helpful information about gold, you should feel comfortable going into this market. Make sure you put the strategies learned to good use as you invest wisely.