Gold is something that is recognized by everyone as a precious metal. It has always been highly valued and used to trade for other valuable goods. We no longer use gold as money today but it is still as valued as it ever was. Here are some ways for you to get started in collecting gold today.
Beware of buying or selling gold from any mobile offices or cold-call solicitations. These “businesses” are set up in temporary locations that include inns and motels. They claim to offer instant cash for silver and gold pieces, especially coins. They enjoy taking pieces to make a profit for unfair or no compensation.
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.
Avoid buying gold coins for their historical value, unless the investment can stand on its own without the gold factoring in. Although coins with historical value can be very profitable investments, most often it is that alone and not the composite material that makes you money. Don’t confuse the two markets.
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.
You may be put off by the price of gold, making you go with gold-plated or gold-filled jewelry instead. Before settling for a gold plated piece, understand that there are great deals out there on solid gold jewelry. Find cheap gold in pawn shops or online.
If you’re sending your gold to some company via the mail, check them out before doing business with them. You should be clear about when you can expect to be paid. Insuring your gold shipment is a good idea, too. Be sure you capture photos of everything you put in the mail.
Talk to multiple vendors before making a decision about which buyer you’ll go with. You may be shocked to see how different the offers are! Going with the very first buyer who comes along might prove a bad deal. Take time to get the most cash you can for your pieces.
Know what you are selling. For example, a 14 karat gold necklace may be worth by selling it as a necklace rather than selling it based on the selling price of gold. If you have a lot of broken jewelry, you may make more money selling it for the price of gold than selling it as jewelry.
If you are considering selling your gold to a pawn shop or second hand store, go with the pawn shop. Pawn shops have certain regulations they must abide by, and this protects you, the consumer. Second hand stores have no such regulations, which opens up the possibility of unethical practices.
Don’t just bring your gold to a buyer without knowing its true value, no matter how badly you are in need of cash. Calculate the value of your items based on purity and weight so that you have a good idea what the fair market value is. Only then should you bring your gold to a dealer.
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.
Many jewelry shops will buy gold, and they are often the best places to go, as they generally pay a fair price. However, as gold parties and mail-in operations become more popular, these stores are starting to realize that they don’t have to pay as much money as they used to for the items. Get several quotes before making any decisions.
As you cam see, investing in gold can be a very wise decision if you know how to do it. Now you have a better idea of the value of gold and how to acquire it. Take what you have learned here and get started in investing in some gold of your own.