Of all the things you could invest your money in, gold is one of the safest bets. Even with minor fluctuations, gold really tends to hold its value over the years. Learn more about gold and what your options are with it, with the tips and tricks in the following article.
Have an understanding of the current market value of gold before you sell it. You can call a jewelry store for this information. Gold value changes often, sometimes from day to day, and you want to make sure your buyer is offering you a fair price for your pieces, based on current market value.
When going to sell your gold, bring along identification. If you come to an agreement on the sale of the pieces, you will be required to give the buyers a copy of your government issued id. This is a law meant to protect individuals against buying pieces that are stolen, and any reputable dealer will stand by this law.
Do not expect too much from a gold party. While you will make some money by attending, they are more about having fun with friends or family. Expect to reap about 80 percent of the actual value of your gold. If you are looking to get more than that, consider dealing with a jeweler or other gold dealer.
Think about selling gold on the web. You don’t need to have a physical store location anymore. Take advantage of websites that allow you to sell gold. Contact the site, and they’ll send out a shipping kit so you can send them your gold. If all is in working order, they’ll then pay you at their going rate.
When you are buying or selling gold to another person, make sure you are keeping yourself protected agaisnt identity theft. Avoid giving out your personal financial information. This includes bank account numbers, credit card numbers and Social Security numbers. Take special care to not give out this type of information, especially over the phone to people that you don’t know.
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.
When purchasing gold jewelry, ask the jeweler for a certificate of authenticity. This certificate is proof that you are purchasing a good piece of jewelry made of solid cold. Be sure the certificate indicates the price of the jewelry. Should you ever decide to sell your jewelry, this will be of help.
Be wary when buying gold from online precious metal dealers. There is a lot of fake gold for sale on the internet, so it pays be cautious when buying investment precious metals online. Many fake gold bullion bars are almost indistinguishable from real gold bullion bars, as many fake gold bars are coated with real gold despite the fact that their insides are fake.
Have your gold weighed out in the open, in front of you. If a dealer wants to take your piece to the back of the store, beware. Some less than ethical dealers will use a bait and switch, or they will tell you the pieces weigh less than they actually do. This means less money in your pocket, and it amounts to an unfair deal.
If you decide to purchase gold, make sure you go to a reputable dealer. Buying coins from a coin shop may be convenient, but you may not be getting the best deal. Gold prices can fluctuate from one day to the next, so make sure you know how much you should be paying on that particular day.
Investing in gold has significant profit potential, but it’s not for the faint of heart. If you’re not ready for a roller coaster ride, gold investing is probably not for you. If you have the fortitude, still limit your downside risk. Make gold just a small portion of your portfolio at first. It should be no more than five percent.
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.
Sort your gold by karats into groups if your are planning on selling it. The value of the gold differs by the karat value of each and if all your gold is weighed together, you will not receive the best cash value. Gold with a higher karat value is worth more.
Any sound investment strategy recognizes the necessity of diversifying your portfolio. Most financial advisers recommended that investments in gold should represent no more than 10 to 30 percent of your total assets. This amount leaves plenty of room in your portfolio for other types of products to round out your portfolio.
Educating yourself about gold is the first and most important step to entering into this lucrative market. Make sure you have a good understanding of what is involved with your purchase, sale or collectibles before spending any money. Once you really know what you’re doing, it should be a lot of fun and very worth your while.
