Investors concerned with recent financial uncertainty the world over have recently turned to gold markets in record numbers as a way to secure their personal wealth. But, not everyone has a sufficient grasp of the principles of gold buying and selling necessary to make smart decisions. The advice and guidance that follows is meant to help correct that problem for curious readers.
If you think your gold has high value, have it appraised before going to make a sale. An appraiser is more likely to give you an accurate value for your pieces, while a seller might low ball you to get a better price. Bring your appraisal certificate with you when selling to ensure you’re making a fair deal.
Find out if you have a piece made by a well-known designer. Sometimes, the origin of the piece and the designer of the piece makes a gold piece worth more, rather than having it melted down. Tell the buyer if you have a piece done by someone noteworthy, to 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.
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.
If you own gold or plan on buying some anytime soon, be sure to also invest in a good safe, unless you’re going to store it in the bank. Many financial institutions don’t insure their safe deposit boxes, so people tend to harbor gold at home. Get a solid safe, home security system and have the gold insured, for the safest keeping.
Remember that gold is not the only type of precious metal that you can invest your money in. Sometimes silver and palladium can actually be better investment that gold. In addition, you can also buy copper bullion bars and copper coins. Therefore, do not think that gold is your only option if you are looking to invest in metal.
When selling gold, it pays to shop around. This includes checking with several dealers both locally and nationally. To get the most bang for your buck, ask what fees will be assessed during the sale. Just because a dealer is offering to pay more per ounce, does not always equate to more money in your pocket. This extra money can be ate up by fees and commissions.
If you are selling gold of different karats, have them weighed separately. This is because 24 karat gold has a higher value than 18 or 14 karat gold. By having them all weighed separately you will get a fair price. If they are all weighed together, you will be given the total value of the lowest karat.
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.
Know the gold market before selling or buying gold. Much like buying and selling stock, you should always buy low and sell high. The gold market varies daily just like the stock market, so it is important to follow the trends and sell your gold when it is at its highest sales price.
If you’re considering selling antique jewelry as gold, get it appraised before hand. It could be that the jewelry is actually worth more in its current form, especially if its by a high-end jewelry designer. If you don’t stop and assess this, you could lose out on thousands of dollars.
Don’t be afraid to travel a little bit to get an appraisal. Sometimes suburban gold dealers offer better rates than dealers in the middle of the city. It can be worth the extra gallon or two of gas to potentially get a hundred or more dollars more in the sale.
There is no disputing the massive surge in gold markets experienced in recent years, due in large part to the upheavals seen in other investment sectors. To invest wisely in gold, it pays to acquire solid knowledge of the topic in advance. Use this article as a resource going forward, and you will have what it takes to succeed.
