Many people today are looking to place their money in the gold market because it is considered a less risky investment. Even though all investments carry risk, chances are you won’t lose everything when you buy gold. Read on and get valuable advice in the world of the gold market.
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.
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.
Regardless of where you are selling your gold, you will be asked for your driver’s license or some other form of identification. Make sure you have it on you when you go to make the transaction. If you are preparing to sell and you don’t get asked for your ID, that should raise a big red flag.
Research gold buyers. If you decide to send your gold out of state, make sure your package is certified and insured. You will probably feel more confident selling your gold to a reputable local business that has a storefront. Either way, you should check with the Better Business Bureau.
All investments come with a certain amount of risk, and gold is no different. To help limit your risk when selling gold, ask for referrals from friends or family members who have sold gold in the past. They may be able to steer you toward a reputable gold buyer.
If you’re buying gold pieces for investment reasons, stay away from proof coins. These coins are polished and mounted, and they can sometimes be worth more than regular coins. The problem is, proof coin value only matters to collectors, and it can vary on a daily basis. For investment only purposes, stick with regular coins.
Be extra cautious when using a mail-away service for selling your gold. Always buy shipping insurance for your items. Know how long the dealer will hold your pieces before melting them, and know how long you have to accept or reject their offer. And keep an inventory with pictures of all the items you’ve sent.
When selling your gold, realize that jewelers use a different scale system than others. For example, one ounce of gold will weigh 31.1 grams. Some businesses weigh by the pennyweight, which is 1.555 grams. Then, they purchase by the gram instead of the pennyweight, which can result in them underpaying you.
Reading this article about investing in the gold market was the first step towards understanding how to make a safe investment. Now that you have these tips you should possess enough confidence to go out and invest on your own. Take what you learned here as great advice on how to approach the market of gold.