If you’ve been wanting to invest in gold previously but haven’t taken the initial dive, then you’re reading the right article. You should not feel afraid. Learn all you can and begin your gold investment adventure. There are many advantages to investing in gold.
Know what gold is currently selling for. While it’s convenient to just bring your gold to a shop, do a little internet research first to see what the range is. That way, you can go in knowing how much you can expect to receive. You will know if you are being lowballed.
When you go to sell your gold, make sure your expectations are not too high and bring your government-issued identification. On average, gold dealers pay between 70 and 80 percent of the actual value. The law requires that dealers ask sellers for identification when buying gold to aid police in their investigations about stolen property.
Before finalizing your gold sale, get the entire thing down in writing. Later on, if there’s any sort of problems related to the sale, you’ll need this signed written document at the ready to prove your case. If you don’t have it, you may find that proving any sort of fraud will be nearly impossible.
Always research the market price before you try and sell your gold. Check out the competition and what they are offering. This is a price point that you can work with. Always start a little higher that what you are actually hoping to get, so you have room to negotiate.
Look into any company you are considering via the Better Business Bureau. If there have been complaints lodged against the company, then it’s best for you to just move on to another buyer or seller. The BBB is an excellent first line of defense to weed out the worst companies out there.
Have a basic understanding of grams and pennyweight measurements when selling your gold. Some jewelers will measure in pennyweight but pay in grams, and this results in a lower payment to the seller. Avoid this by asking what measurement your jeweler is using before your pieces are ever weighed, and make sure you are paid based on that same measurement.
Do not assume because there is no stamp that a piece of gold is not real. There are many solid gold pieces out there that are not stamped at all. Try testing the gold in question with a magnet and if it does not stick, you probably have solid gold.
Do not buy gold from strangers who approach you in the streets and offer to sell it to you at an unreasonably cheap price. It might sound silly but people fall for it all the time. These pieces are brass or gold plated and the seller will do anything to get you to buy it. Ask to go to the pawn shop and if they refuse, walk away.
Try to look for coin dealers that offer a money back guarantee. This proves that the company is more worried about you being satisfied than they are about making a profit for themselves. It will not be easy to find a dealer that offers this, but it is definitely worth the time it takes to seek one out.
If you are purchasing gold for investment purposes, understand that there is no guarantee. Gold prices fluctuate often, meaning some investors win big and others lose big. Always make sure you are not investing more than you can afford to, and have a clear understanding of the risks before you invest at all.
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.
Talk to friends and family about their experiences. You may be surprised at the knowledge you can gain from them! In fact, they may lead you to two or three reputable gold dealers. This can speed up your research a lot starting out, so it’s worth the five minutes to ask.
Investing in gold adds a degree of stability to your investment portfolio not available from most other assets. While the price of gold has fluctuated over the years, it has stood the test of time through economic crises and inflation. Gold’s intrinsic value provides a solid basis for any portfolio.
You now are equipped with the necessary information to get you rolling in the right direction. It’s time to get into some gold investing, and you need to use the strategies that have been discussed here to get you started. Before you know it, you will experience the multitude of benefits that gold investing can offer you.
