Investing in gold is smart and can bring diversity to your portfolio. However, you have to know what you are doing, and you have to think about the choices available to you. Keep reading to learn why gold is a smart investment strategy.

TIP! The price of gold changes often, so you need to know the value of your gold before attempting to sell it. If you choose to sell gold, weigh and value pieces that have different karat values separately.

When selling gold, sell to reputable buyers. Use resources like the Better Business Bureau and customer reviews. A buyer with a good reputation is going to give you a better deal for the gold you have, and they probably will have great customer service too. Research helps protect you and your investment.

Consider selling gold online. You don’t need to visit an actual store to do this. Many websites are available will help you sell your gold. The site will send you a special kit in which you’ll return the gold items. They will send you payment for your goods after they receive your items.

TIP! Make sure to research prospective buyers in advance in order to find a reputable one. Better Business Associates can give your information about complaints made against a company and how those complaints were resolved.

You should always ask for timely delivery when purchasing some gold from a reliable seller. Always get a timeline in writing of when your gold pieces will be delivered if immediately delivery is not provided by the seller. The date they expect you to get them should be listed. If you cannot get this document, do not complete your order.

Look at the spot price of gold before selling. That way, you will know if you are being offered a fair price for the items you have. Most dealers should sell according to the market, but sometimes they’ll try to scam you if they think you just want quick cash.

TIP! If you plan to invest in gold for retirement, be sure you purchase the right kind. The IRS must have approved the gold that you receive.

If you do not have a large amount of money to start off with, why not consider purchasing scrap gold. This can be done in tiny increments which allow you to build wealth slowly. Stash your gold in a place that is safe so that you can cash it in later.

Shop around town if you are taking scrap jewelry or gold pieces to sell to a store or pawn shop. You cannot count on these stores to pay the national standard of the day. Stores located apart from larger shopping centers may have fewer fixed costs and are thus, able to pay higher prices.

Spot Price

Take a look at the spot price prior to going out to purchase gold. The spot price is readily found on the Internet. When you buy, don’t pay over 8% markup over the price. Some sellers try charging more, but that’s overcharging, which is generally unethical.

TIP! Know that anything that has gold in it is sellable to a gold dealer. Old or broken jewelry, old coins and tableware are just some of the things that may contain gold, In fact, a gold piece doesn’t have to be 100-percent gold to be worth something.

If you’re using a mail-order gold buying service, make sure you understand any return postage fees you’ll need to pay if you decline their offer. A lot of buyers offer free shipping but will charge you a lot to send the item back. Understand what you will have to pay if you don’t like their offer. Protect yourself.

Never sell to an unlicensed gold dealer. While you could still get ripped off, a licensed buyer is more likely to be reputable. Never sell without doing research and verifying the dealer is licensed.

TIP! If you plan to mail your jewelry, be sure that you find out how much the return postage will cost if the price offered you is too low. Many companies advertise no shipping costs, but they often hide large handling fees in the fine print.

As exciting as buying gold can be, avoid telling people about it. You don’t know who could try to keep tabs on this, and you don’t want to have to worry about trusting people. Keep your investment private and secured, preferably in a safe. In this way, you can be sure your gold investment is safe.

Antique stores may hold valuable gold. When you know what to look for, you can find a great deal. People frequently give these things away without understanding their value. If you are smart, you can make a great profit.

TIP! Your buyers should always have gold-buying licenses from the state. Licensed buyers are generally more reputable than unlicensed buyers.

It is important to understand that market before becoming active in it. All markets have their flaws, and the gold one is no exception. Many people would like to take advantage of your lack of knowledge on gold. You need to exercise caution and do your research.

Ask what method is used to determine the purity or karats of your jewelry. Often, the item will be stamped. However, if there are no visual indications, there are other ways to determine purity. Acid testing is a very simple method, so if a representative is using this, they might be new.

TIP! When selling gold, make sure your items are separated by karat weight. Don’t allow all of your gold items to be weighed together or you will not get the true karat value.

After reading the above article you can probably see how gold can be a great benefit to your financial portfolio. It’s a good investment that can help tide you over beyond your current retirement funds and other types of investments. Use the fantastic advice in this article to help you make wise investments in the gold market.

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