Gold makes a great investment, but what do you know about buying and selling gold. While it may sound simple, there are actually many things you should know before you get started. Keep reading so that you can learn more about gold as an investment and how it can strengthen your portfolio.
Make sure that you get a quality estimate from a reputable source before selling your gold. There are a large number of venues for selling your gold, and they each have different target margins. You can be certain you're getting the best deal by shopping around.
Separate jewelry by their karat values before getting an offer. A lot of times, gold buyers will try to give you a price for the lowest karat and lump everything together. Think of that and make a point of separating your pieces according to karat, so you'll get a better price.
When mailing your gold away for sale, make sure to read all the fine print before sending it in. Some buyers have less than stellar reputations, and you will not see this until you read the fine print. Make sure you are comfortable with all the terms you are agreeing to, or look to another location to sell your gold.
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.
Only jewelry that is at least 10 karats can be sold to gold dealers. The more karats your piece is, the higher amount it will command on the market. Therefore, a necklace that is 14 karats should get you a better price than something that is only 10 karats. Prior to taking in your jewelry, look at each piece to determine how many karats it is. This may help you decide whether you want to sell it or not.
Avoid selling pieces whose worth is more than just the weight of the gold. The value of antique jewelry and rare coins can far outweigh the value of the gold. Also avoid selling pieces that are artistically crafted, jewelry that has gems and anything with sentimental value. The gold will be melted down before it is sold.
Do not assume that gold that is old, ugly, broken and unwearable is not eligible to be sold for a profit. The value of gold is not based on the attractiveness of the piece. It all depends on the weight of the gold, so feel free to bring in gold that is in any condition.
If you are planning to buy gold coins, consider holding on to them for awhile before making a sale. Gold can fluctuate in value on a daily basis, meaning if you buy today, sometimes the value will be less tomorrow. This can lead to frustration if you try to sell too soon. Save yourself the headache by buying for the long run.
Remember that you can lose money when you buy gold. Buying gold is an investment and like all investments, its value can actually decrease as well as increase. Therefore, it is important to make sure that you do not invest more than you can comfortably afford to lose in the precious metal.
Do NOT sell your scrap gold or gold jewelery to a company wanting to do so through the mail. These types of operations pay less than pennies on the dollar and you will have no recourse once you receive your measly check from them. Visit a dealer in person, get a real evaluation and try to sell it to them.
Be a comparison shopper. Each gold dealer will make different offers. It may depend on their commission set up or the flexibility in their fees. But you won't see the benefit of this unless you shop around. Don't stop at the first place and call it a day. You may be making a bad deal for yourself.
Never sell gold to a dealer or store with checking their ratings with the BBB first. They'll have basic resources for you such as reviews and complaints from other customers. Heed any complaints to see if the company resolved them or not. If there are a lot of complaints on their record with the BBB, move on to a different business.
A photo id is required with each sale of precious metal. This is because the information is kept on file to assist local police authorities in the investigation of thefts and robberies. A reputable dealer will require identification when selling gold. If the buyer does not require identification, he is not honest, and you should find a different gold dealer.
When selling gold, categorize it by karat weight. A vendor may scam you by weighing what you have together by the lowest weight in karat. You'll get less money that way. Separate and weigh your gold so you know the true value before selling.
If you are interested in selling your gold, you may come across an advertisement stating that a buyer will be at a local hotel near you. In many cases, these people are interested in more than just gold, so if you have other items of value, you should be able to unload them as well. However, you won't command a very high price for your gold from these individuals, and they will often try to pressure you into the sale.
When buying gold coins, the best deals can be found by sticking to one ounce amounts. The common and popular American Eagle gold coin comes in one-tenth, one-quarter, one-half and full ounce weights. Buying the coins issued in fractional denominations can carry a premium over the gold's actual spot price.
Now that you are more familiar with the different strategies for buying and selling gold, you can dive into the market. Gold is a wonderful recession-proof investment, and you want it to work for you. Remember all the tips you've read so that you can come out on top in the market.
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