Many people have notice the increased interest in investing in gold. To do well in the gold market you must first get yourself educated from the experts. To learn about gold, read the following tips.

Do not sell your gold without first knowing what it is currently worth. If you decide to sell your gold, pieces with different karat values should be weighed and valued separately. Stay away from selling high-end jewelry pieces because they have more value.

Research any gold buyer you are considering using and shop around for a reputable buyer. You can read reviews online, check with the Better Business Bureau and discover how each dealer resolves customer complaints. Also get more than one offer for your gold. This will ensure you get the best possible price.

Schedule for a proper delivery before buying gold from any seller. If you don’t get delivery immediately, get something in writing which confirms delivery of your pieces. You should be provided with the estimated date of delivery. Only go through with your order if you obtain this document.

When you plan to buy gold, make sure you look at the spot price. This information can be found on several different websites. Paying for gold that is any higher than an 8% markup is not a wise investment. Be on the lookout for any unscrupulous dealers who try to get away with overcharging you.

Know what you actually have in your possession. A lot of the time, gold isn’t really worth what it looks like it’s worth. Many times, gold is mixed with other metals to increase its strength. That can make it less valuable. This also applies to pieces that are plated with gold. If you don’t know exactly what you have, consider an appraisal.

Talk to someone at a gold party to learn how they figure out the number of karats in a jewelry piece. Items are usually stamped. However, if there are no visual indications, there are other ways to determine purity. One method that can be used is the acid test.

Always understand what you are signing. If you use any of the abundant mail-in gold buyers, study the fine print carefully before making the sale. This lets you know how much you end up with after any fees are taken off the top.

Look at the BBB before selling gold to jewelers, dealers, gold buyers, and the like. They have rudimentary information about listed businesses, as well as reviews from clients who have traded with them. Complaints that have been resolved are actually a good thing, so factor those in as well. If a business has a lot of customer complaints or unresolved complaints, avoid using them.

The first thing you should do when selling gold is group the pieces by karat weight. When you get into the weighing process during the sale, the vendor may try and trick you by weighing everything together at the lowest karat weight. This is a scam that will cost you money. Have everything organized to maximize the amount of money you get.

Doing some research into any potential gold buyer is a good way to both protect your interests and score a good deal. That is important, especially when you are mailing in your pieces to someone out of state. Companies that buy gold ought to be listed with your local BBB, where you are able to find out if complaints are filed against a company.

Understand that you will not receive full price on your gold. Gold dealers work like most other businesses. They are after profits, so they have margin to work with in their purchase price. Generally speaking, you should get between fifty and seventy percent of the true value of your gold.

Be cautious when you decide to invest in gold. Gold doesn’t provide you with any income, unlike buying stocks or bonds. The price of gold is also extremely volatile. It will raise in value as equities decline in value. No more than approximately 5-10 percent of your portfolio should be invested in gold.

Gold investing is not something that can be timed. Rather, it ought to be considered as a means of ensuring wealth. If you insist on trying to time things, make purchases when things are not very busy. Gold shortages are common when the economy is rough.

If you want to invest in gold but do not have a lot of money upfront that is okay. No one says you can’t start small and then build. Purchase small jewelry and coins when you have the money. You will build a collection of gold by doing this.

Don’t let the buyer lump all your gold pieces together and weigh them as one unit. You need to have each karat type weighed separately. By doing this you make sure that you are getting the highest possible price for your gold. That’s because a 10k gold ring is worth less than a 18k necklace that is one ounce.

Monthly and weekly gold charts should be looked at when coming up with your technical analysis. A good choice are the MCX charts, which allow you to plot trends or identify patterns in your data. Using both of the charts can help you get a full understanding of the market.

It’s not a surprise that interest in gold as a way to shore up personal finances is more popular than ever. Maybe you are one of those who would like to gain more knowledge. Using these tips in your gold strategy can help you succeed.