The prices of gold has been on the rise lately but can fluctuate day to day. Continue reading to learn how you can get in on this precious metal market.Gold prices change quickly and often, so make sure you are aware of the value before you try to sell any. If you have made the call to sell any gold you have, keep in mind that pieces that have different karat values need to be valued and weighed separately. Don’t sell gold jewelry that may be worth more than its melt value because of its designer origins.Bullion bars are an excellent gold investment. Their weights can vary. You can find them from a half ounce all the way up to four-hundred ounce bars. However, the really big bars are very hard to come by.The cost of gold may give you the idea that gold-filled or gold-plated jewelry is better. You can acquire gold jewelry from a number of sources at a local jewelry store. It is easy to get great deals on gold jewelry from online and at pawn shops.Pawn brokers and many private sellers are only looking to pay melt value.Stay with reputable buyers when you sell your gold. Verify their good standing by checking with the BBB and reviews online. If you are being offered good customer service and an honest price for the gold, then you are dealing with a reputable buyer. This will protect you from rip off artists.While purchasing gold can be quite exhilarating, you need to keep it quiet. You don’t know who to trust or who you can really trust. Make sure that your gold investments to yourself and kept safe.This is the best way to protect your gold investment.Don’t discount the value of looking for gold items from thrift stores or antique shops. You can find great bargains in these places. You can reap the benefits of their loss!Research several gold buyers and compare them to obtain the best price for your gold. Read online reviews and check with your local Better Business Bureau to find out if a dealer has any complaints filed against them. Shop around to get the best price for your gold.There are some shady companies out there who deal with gold.You have to do your research and be careful.Always read small print on your contracts. You should carefully read the whole contract especially if selling through a mail-in purchasing service to sell gold.This helps you learn the amount of proceeds you need to pay for fees and commissions.Before you buy gold, be sure you know exactly when it will be delivered to you. To ensure timely delivery request a confirmation on the shipping date. Your expected receive date should be listed. Only go through with your order if you obtain this document.Before you consider selling your gold, contact your local Better Business Bureau. You will see if there were any complaints and be able to read reviews from there.Pay close attention to whether any complaints and if they were resolved or not. If you see that there are a lot of unresolved complaints, it would be a wise decision to do business with a different company instead.Gold can often be a very volatile investment. If you can’t handle the fluctuations, avoid gold. Even if you’ve got the stomach for it, take steps to limit your risk. Only a very small amount of your portfolio should be invested in gold. A good limit is about five percent.Be aware of the going rate of gold before you sell you gold items. This will help you set a fair price when you sell or buy. Dealers will charge you a premium on top of market value so they can make some money too.When you sell gold, first thing to do is separate each piece into their different values of karats. The gold values differ by karat values so if all the gold you have is weighed together, so you are unlikely to receive the best price for your gold if it is all weighed together. Gold with a higher karat value is more pure and therefore more valuable.If you’re thinking about selling gold online, check the prices several times before making a decision. It may be handy to mail your gold, but these outlets do not typically pay as well.

Understand that any item containing gold carries value with gold dealers. Valuable gold can be made into anything that is now broken such as jewelry and any home items that could be around. You can get something for an item if it is not made out of pure gold. Even gold plated items will have some value. You can still get some decent money selling these items.If your interest in gold is purely aesthetic, be sure your jewelry is made of pure gold. You can use your gold jewelry as a fashion accessory.Gold is a long-term investment.This requires you to invest in gold no matter what the current price is and not just when prices are high.Find out the spot price for gold on the day that you’re planning to buy. This price can be found on a number of websites. Never pay more than 8% premiums on your gold. Be on the lookout for any unscrupulous dealers who try to get away with overcharging you.You should know ahead of time that you won’t be able to get the full value of your gold. A gold dealer must make a businessperson just like all others.Expect to receive offers in the 50% to 70% range of your total value.Sell gold coins when the price of gold prices are high. The stock market and down everyday. Sell your gold when the market is doing well.When considering mailing your gold away for sale, be certain you know how much return mail will cost should you change your mind. They may not charge you to send it to them, but they could gouge you to send it back. Know beforehand how much you would have to send in order to get your pieces back.Be sure you are getting what it is you are getting from your purchase. Some coins are only gold or actually gold-plated.Keep your eye on gold prior to selling. You have to wait for the market favors selling. This means understanding the prices are doing. It is worthwhile to monitor things prior to making a bit before you sell.Sell to licensed buyers only. Most states require that dealers be licensed when dealing with the buying and selling of gold. There are quite a few vendors that will purchase gold, so never go into it thinking you’ve got to sell your gold to the first seller you talk to.Jewelry with higher karat rating is worth more. Make sure to separate the items before you carefully inspect each piece and put it with similar items.Take photos of your gold pieces before you let someone handle it. Also ask about what will happen if your pieces are replace din the event the buyer loses them or they are stolen. Make sure to have all this in writing to protect yourself.Get a good grasp on what you own. Many things look like solid gold but are not. A lot of the time there will be something mixed with the gold so it holds up better. These metals can reduce the value of gold. This also applies to gold plated items. Have an appraisal done on large amounts of jewelry or gold whose value you are uncertain about before selling it.Remember your identification when you sell gold. Gold is very common with thieves that wish to make decent money. To catch them, the federal government came up with a law that states if you trade in gold you must present identification. This makes it much harder for thieves to sell off stolen gold will be located should someone try to sell it.Purchasing large gold bars is a great way to invest in ounces is the cheapest method.Although each bar costs more, you will pay lower premiums and earn a greater return as gold prices increase in the long run. The reason why commemorative gold coins is higher because they have value beyond their gold.When you go to a dealer, make sure to read all forms clearly. Gold is a huge market that has some serious money involved in most transactions. Make sure you completely understand the contract you are signing. Move on if their terms don’t meet your needs. Sometimes this is right thing to do to protect your interests.As you can see by now, gold is a constant in our financial system. To capitalize with gold trading, you must know all all about the market and you must set goals for yourself. Be a smart investor in the gold market and make full use of the advice presented above.