If you are a serious investor, then you need to know the basics about gold investment. Gold can add much needed diversity to your portfolio. What is a good place to start? There are so many option that it can seem overwhelming. This article will answer some of you questions and get you started investing in gold.
Before you buy gold, be sure you know exactly when it will be delivered to you. When dealing with a vendor, it pays to seek written confirmation of the expected delivery date. This is crucial if they do not offer the option to deliver immediately. A date should be spelled on this piece of paper. Only complete the order if given this documentation.
The high price of gold may give you the idea that gold-filled or gold-plated jewelry is better. You do not have to pay full price for gold jewelry if you find that the prices offered by jewelry stores are too expensive. It is easy to get great deals on gold jewelry from online retailers or pawn shops.
If you’re sending your gold to some company via the mail, check them out before doing business with them. You should find out how long the process takes, and get package tracking and insurance on your package, too. Take a photo of what you mail to battle against disputes down the road.
Be careful approaching the gold market. There are bad companies in any market, but this market is known for having many. A lot of companies and individuals trading in gold rely on taking advantage of unsuspecting consumers in order to increase their profits. The benefits of caution and careful research simply cannot be overstated.
Know exactly what you have. Even if something looks similar to gold, it may not have the same value. Many times, gold is mixed with other metals to increase its strength. Items that are not pure gold have a lower value. Items can also be plated with gold. If don’t know what you’ve got, have it appraised before you sell it.
Knows all the details in a gold sales contract. If you want to sell gold to mail-in gold buyers, read the small print carefully before you sell. This way, you will know the exact amount of the fees and commissions you will be paying.
It is a good idea to check with the Better Business Bureau before you deal with a gold broker. You can find out about certain businesses and experiences so that you can move forward from there. Keep a close eye out for any complaints not fully resolved. If the number of complaints is high, it would be a wise decision to do business with a different company instead.
Don’t sell gold just to sell it. Gold tends to increase in price, so waiting may yield even greater profits. If you don’t need the money, hang on to your gold.
As you prepare to sell your gold pieces, divide it into separate piles based on karat values. Separating ensures you get the most money for the karats that you own. The higher the value of the karat, the more valuable your gold is.
If you are trying to acquire some gold as an investment, check with friends and family to see if they have any broken jewelry pieces they want to sell. If you use an accurate scale that is designed for jewelry, you can offer friends and family a higher price than what they would receive at a pawnshop.
You don’t want to get too complicated when it comes to gold investing in the beginning. Try to avoid gold futures investments. Investing in futures is extremely unpredictable and risky. You can lose a lot of money in a hurry if you don’t know what you are doing. These sorts of complex investments are better suited to experienced investors.
Be sure you understand what it is you are purchasing. Lots of gold coins out in the world are merely gold plated. To ensure you are getting a gold coin, have the coin appraised.
Be sure each piece of gold is individually weighed when selling multiple items. This will ensure that you are accurately paid for your gold. For example, an 18k piece weighing one ounce is worth more than a one-ounce 10k piece.
When selling jewelry, weigh each type of gold separately. Larger numbers, like 18, are more valuable than smaller numbers. If you mix the pieces together when weighing, you won’t be getting the value of the higher karats. Separate these items before selling.
Find out what the value of your gold is before trying to sell it. When you attempt to sell gold, dealers are normally aware that it is because you need quick cash. This is what gives them the idea that they can offer you very little money and get away with it. Visit www.goldprice.org to check the current gold price.
Always have some form of identification with you when you are selling gold. Thanks to its relative anonymity, gold is one of the most common valuables that thieves try to fence. To stop this from occurring, it is now a legal requirement that ID needs to be presented by all gold sellers. This makes it more likely that stolen gold will be located should someone try to sell it.
Understanding how to invest wisely in gold is essential to having a bright financial future through portfolio diversity. With the good advice you found here, you can now choose more wisely. Remember this advice to get started in the proper direction.