Gold is valued universally and has been treasured for thousands of years. If you are considering buying some gold, the following advice can help you get the best value for your money when you buy or sell this precious metal.

Before you buy gold, ensure you have scheduled a quick delivery. If the seller does not provide immediate delivery, get something in writing which confirms delivery of your pieces. The date of arrival should be provided. Only go through with your order if given this document.

When you sell gold, you should obtain a type of estimated value from multiple sources. Gold buyers and jewelry stores are out to make a profit, so they’ll all pay less than the actual value of the gold you’re selling. You should get your gold appraised by a professional and compare prices offered by different buyers.

This can be done over time, and can lead to an accumulation of real value in the span of a year or two. Keep your collection safe location until you have an sufficient amount to cash in.

If you decide to mail your gold to a buyer, see how much it is to have it returned to you if the offer isn’t that great. Know ahead of time if you would have to send in order to get jewelry back.

Bullion is the best choice if investing in gold. Their weights can vary. You can find them from a half ounce all the way up to four-hundred ounce bars. If 400 ounce bars interest you, know it will be hard to find them.

There are some shady companies out there who deal with gold.You need to do your research to keep yourself safe.

Look around before buying from a gold buyer. You may be surprised at the offers received. Going with the very first buyer who comes along might not be a good idea. Take a bit more time at first so you’ve got the maximum return on your gold investment.

Stay with reputable buyers when you sell your gold. There are several ways to find out about their reputation, such as online reviews or Better Business Bureau filings. A legitimate buyer will pay you fairly for your gold while giving you great customer service. Doing this protects your investment.

Gold is a safe investment but volatile investment. If you have low risk tolerance, avoid gold. If you have the fortitude, you ought to minimize risk just the same. Never put more than a fraction of your total investments into gold. A good limit is about five percent.

Karat Values

Prior to buying or selling any gold, be sure you truly understand how gold pricing works. Precious metal prices vary from day to day and it’s best to check the price before selling or buying gold. Also be ready to pay increasingly higher percentages above melt values for any gold pieces that are fractional. These include 1/10, 1/2 and 1/4 ounce pieces.

When preparing to sell gold, separate your gold into groups of different karat values. The karat value determines the gold’s value, and weighing your gold together can cheat you out of money. Gold with a higher karat values is more valuable.

This is critical when selling to a mail away service gold purchase or sale.

Always make delivery arrangements before purchasing gold from a vendor. Delivery times are important. If a seller gives you anything other than immediate delivery, you need to have some kind of written contract or guarantee when your pieces are arriving. The date they expect you to get them should be listed. Only go through with your order if you obtain this document.

Have a game plan in place before you begin investing in gold. Gold can provide a hedge against inflation, but it’s also a very volatile one. When you make goals and know what you are doing, you can reach your goals.

Gold is a long-term investment.You can’t just buy when it’s price is high.

Sell gold to buyers that are state licensed to buy gold. You could still have a problem, but licensed buyers are more likely reputable. Many individuals, pawn shops and jewelry stores are interested in buying gold. Be picky about your buyers.

Don’t get too far over your head if you’re just starting out as a gold investor. Avoid using gold futures and other popular types of gold investment. Futures are volatile and unpredictable. You can sometimes lose money very swiftly. Avoid dabbling in intricate investments such as these until you have become a seasoned investor to sort it out.

If your gold pieces are going get melted down, ask to keep the stones. If they are very small, though, they are going to be hard to remove.

While purchasing gold can be quite exhilarating, try not to discuss your purchase with others. You have no way of knowing who might overhear your conversation and who is truly trustworthy. Lock your investment up in a safe at home or at a bank and don’t let anyone else know. That way, your gold will always be secure.

Stock Market

Sell your gold coins when its worth the price of gold is high. The stock market goes up and gold prices change every day. Sell your gold when the stock market is doing well.

Make sure you are know exactly what you have. Not everything that looks like gold is worth its weight in it. Often, you will find other metals mixed into the gold in order to strengthen the item. This may lower the price. This applies to gold plated items as well. If don’t know what you’ve got, have it appraised before you sell it.

You don’t want to purchase too much at once. Gold does not yield income like bonds or stocks do. The price of gold market. When equities are devalued that is when you get a rise in value. You ought not invest more than five percent of your portfolio into the gold market.

Be sure you understand what you are getting from your purchase. Some coins out there that you may think are gold plated.

Always do your own research into the gold market before you make any investments. There may be people claiming to be market gurus who are trying to lure you into investing with them. Nonetheless, you should be wary of high flung promises of wealth. You will not get rich quick with gold. It is a long term investment.

If you have many different pieces, make sure they are separated by karat value. This ensure you are going to get an accurate price for your gold pieces.

Make sure you make duplicate copies of that list.

Before you sell gold jewelry for its scrap value, have it professionally appraised. You should do this for special pieces. Unique pieces may be worth more intact than they would if eventually melted down. While you may get charged a small fee, it can earn you more cash later on. A professional appraiser can also point you towards potential buyers for high-quality gold jewelry.

Get gold appraised for the best possible deal. It will cost you money.

Photograph what you intend to mail to a gold item before shipping it to the buyer. This will ensure that you have proof of the items shipped. Take special notice of any distinguishable marks that are contained within each individual item.This should include all engravings or other highly-identifiable marks.

Gold is usually a safe investment but this precious metal can also be volatile. If you can’t stomach market swings, avoid gold. Look for ways to limit your risks, for instance by investing small amounts in gold. You want to maintain a diverse portfolio of other investments and make gold only a small portion of it. For example, you might wisely invest 5%.

Gold is a valuable, durable, attractive resource. It’s still ideally suited for use as a tradeable commodity, too. It is sensible that gold keeps its value since it goes up in value while time passes. Now that you’re initiated, start investing in gold today!