Gold has always been a prized possession. There are few things that have been treasured as much as gold. Gold is universally recognized as a valuable commodity and it often given as a token of affection. If you are looking to buy gold, here are some tips to keep in mind.
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.
Take precautions if you mail your items. There are a lot of mail-in services these days, and while they can be convenient, you need to protect yourself. Send the pieces through insured mail, take photographs and know the company’s policies in case they lose your gold pieces and you want a settlement.
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.
If you don’t know what your gold jewelry is worth, consider having an appraisal done. Paying a professional to appraise your item is a good investment. In order to have it valued most accurately, go with an appraiser who is accredited and independent. If you still decide to sell your gold, you should know that you will not be paid the full appraisal value.
If you own gold or plan on buying some anytime soon, be sure to also invest in a good safe, unless you’re going to store it in the bank. Many financial institutions don’t insure their safe deposit boxes, so people tend to harbor gold at home. Get a solid safe, home security system and have the gold insured, for the safest keeping.
While gold buying can be fun, don’t tell everyone about it. You don’t know who to trust or who is listening. Stay quiet about the investment and make sure you keep it safe. This ensures that you retain your gold and that it is safe regardless of the circumstances.
Exercise great care when you’re getting into gold trading. All markets have their flaws, and the gold one is no exception. Gold companies will often shortchange you when offering a price for your gold. It’s important to be cautious and do full research.
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.
Now that you know a bit more about buying gold, take what you have learned and start your gold collection today. You can start off small by just buying small, inexpensive pieces of jewelry to wear. You can also invest in gold coins or ingots. When it comes to investing in gold, there is a world of choices.