What do you know about investing in gold? If you wanted to make a purchase today, would you know how? Do you know all the things to look for? If you want more guidance about gold investments, then this article is going to provide you with the necessary information you need to consider.
Before attending a gold party, separate your jewelry by karat weight. Some buyers will try to weigh all of your pieces together, and then pay you based on the lowest karat weight among them. This amounts to less money in your pocket, meaning you have made an unfair sale.
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.
It is important to invest in the right type of gold when doing so for your retirement. It has to be given the stamp of approval from the IRS. That means only 24 karat and only coins or bullion. Because they hold their value, buy gold bars instead of gold coins.
When purchasing a piece of gold jewelry for someone else, be sure there is a return policy. There are time where you may have to return the jewelry. If that happens then you’re going to want to return it and get your money back.
If you have an interest in gold and also want to start your own business on the side, combine the two passions. Collect scrap gold from various sources, like friends and classified ads, and learn how to treat and melt the pieces into pure or near-pure gold. You can easily find a buyer for your end-product and repeat the process!
When buying gold, beware of scam artists. Always buy from a reputable dealer, and beware of any offers such as free storage or delays in delivery time. Sometimes these dealers will take your money and never provide you with the gold you were promised. Check out your dealer at the BBB before buying to make sure you are working with someone ethical.
Watch out for “pop-up” buyers. These individuals travel from place to place, putting out advertisements that lure in sellers with the promise of a big payout. In many cases, these buyers then leave town without paying the sellers what they are owed. Always do your research on anyone you are planning to sell to.
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.
Shop around before making any decisions about a gold buyer. It might come as a surprise and you never what kind offers are out there! When you just take buyer number one, you may lose money. Putting in a little time at the beginning can mean maximum cash in the end.
When trying to determine if something is real gold or not, try holding it up to a magnet. Since true gold does not have any magnetic properties, it shouldn’t respond at all. If you observe any attraction between your “gold” and the magnet, you’ve probably been fooled or simply found a good imitation.
If you attend a gold party, you want to ask the representative how the value of the jewelry is determined exactly. Many times the item will have a stamp. Other times, though, there are no outward signs, and therefore representatives rely on other techniques. If a buyer uses acid testing, it’s an indication they are a newer business.
The gold value of a piece of jewelry will never be equal to the amount you paid for it. That is because the gold is not pure and is diluted by alloys. The jewelry will need to be melted down to separate the gold from whatever other material it was mixed with.
Before you sell your scrap gold to a dealer at rock-bottom prices, make sure that it isn’t worth more to you the way it is. Some things that lay people think aren’t good enough for anything other than scrap can turn out to be very valuable. See an appraiser to be sure.
Figure out if you want to invest directly or indirectly in gold. Direct investment means you buy gold, the actual gold. You can feel and touch it. Buying gold coins is an example. Indirect investment means you buy funds or certificates that are pegged to the price of gold. Examples include gold mining stocks or exchange traded gold funds.
Now that you’ve read over this information, you are ready to move forward with gold as an investment. However, always stay on top of the gold market as you would with any investment. Continue to learn about relevant information pertaining to the market, and always look out for new opportunities as well.
