One of the most exciting markets to get into when investing is gold. Gold is nearly always a good investment, and you know it is bound to pay off in the long run. The following article will offer you tips and tricks on getting into gold and how to make the best choices.
Do not hesitate to sell any gold jewelry that you no longer have use for. There are many people that hold on to these pieces for no logical reason when they can be sold for a tidy profit. The money you make from the sale would do more good than unused jewelry sitting in a box.
Sort your jewelry before heading in to sell it, putting all the 10 karat pieces together, all the 14 karat pieces together and so on. This will help ensure that your jewelry is weighed separately. There are dealers that will simply throw everything in together and only pay you as if it is all 10 karats.
Try to determine the best type of gold for you to buy. Generally, the best types of gold to get are gold coins, bullion bars, or GoldMoney. Determining the type you want can help you see the amount of money you can set aside for buying and help you figure out why you’re buying it to begin with.
Make a commitment to yourself to get educated on gold. Know going in: only you are on your side. The buyers, no matter how reputable, want to get the best deal for themselves as possible. If you can’t speak the language, there’s a very good chance that you’ll lose in any sort of negotiation.
If you go to a gold party, talk to the person who organizes it to figure out how they calculate the value of the gold sold. A lot of the time you’ll find a stamp on the item. A visual cue may not be available so other methods are used to figure it out. An acid test can be a very simple way of doing this, so be aware of that.
Get a jewelry appraisal before you consider selling it for scrap. Fine details and other clear signs of craftsmanship may result in a piece’s value being worth more than just the value of the gold itself. Appraisals cost money, but often are a good investment. Appraisers also may know of an interested party for your precious jewelry.
Do not sell your gold at a gold party. Although these parties are fun, sellers usually net less than 80 percent of the value of their gold at these parties. To get the most bang for your buck, find a reputable dealer that specializes in buying and selling gold.
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 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.
It can be tempting to take the first offer for your gold, but don’t always jump at it. What might be a piece of scrap gold to someone, might be an antique or catch the interest of a collector. Doing a little research before selling your gold can really end up paying off.
Buying big lots of jewelry from estate sales can end up being quite profitable. There will probably be a lot of costume jewelry, but you can also come across some great real gold pieces of jewelry. Take your time to inspect each piece and you just might find yourself a treasure.
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.
When selling your gold pieces, always ask the dealer if they can better their dealer. Experts state this works in many cases, as it will often reap the seller greater profits. Simply making the effort to bargain a bit can help to put more money in your pocket, making the deal easier for you to accept.
Understand that when buying gold coins, dealers will charge a commission that will increase the amount you’re paying to above the gold spot amount. In this case, it pays to shop around to find a reputable dealer with the lowest commission. However, you can expect most retail commissions for one ounce American or Canadian coins to be around five or six percent.
When buying and selling gold coins and bullions, realize that you will be responsible for capital gains and losses. The US government treats all gold sales as long term capital gains. The tax rate on such sales is 28 percent. Ensure that you keep good financial records to help prepare you tax return.
Remember, a gold dealer only buys gold, not the alloys it’s mixed with. Many gold pieces are made with gold that’s less than pure (based off the karats). Your dealer will take that into consideration when offering you a price, so the weight of your piece may not reflect what you’re offered exactly.
Hopefully this article has given you enough information that you can now enter the gold market with confidence. Use the tips you have read here and other reliable sources of information to make highly educated decisions with your investments. Gold is very exciting and will nearly always make you money!
