Many people assume gold is a great way to protect their wealth. Many say that gold is a good investment in uncertain times. If you want to learn more about this particular investment sector, keep reading.

Stay with reputable buyers when you sell your gold. Check with the BBB and look at reviews online before you sell your gold to a buyer. A buyer with a good reputation will normally pay the going rate for gold, and offer superb customer service than a company than is not legitimate. You should do this to better protect your gold investment and yourself.

Before you mail off your gold, make sure that you understand the polices, fees and terms of the company you are dealing with. Know when they will send your payment out and get your package insured. Lastly, take pictures of all items you’re sending so you have proof in the event of a dispute.

Scrap gold is an excellent investment if you are working with limited investment money. You can do this over a period of time, say around each pay day, and accumulate a considerable amount of valuable gold within a year or so. Just make sure you have a safe place to store your little stockpile until it is time to upgrade.

Comparison shop when selling old gold jewelry. All stores won’t pay market price for your gold, since they are all in business to make a profit. You might get a better deal at a store not in a major shopping mall, since their overhead and rent is lower.

GoldMoney can be a good resource when buying gold. It is akin to establishing a bank account in which you deposit gold. All you need to do is create an account and fund it. You are assigned the same amount of gold as the value of the account. The gold itself is in a vault at a bank, and you can cash it or redeem it for gold bullions.

No matter the excitement gold buying brings, do not spread the word. This is because you never truly know who may be listening. Keep your investment to yourself and under lock and key, either with a bank or in a good home safe. This ensures that your gold is protected under all circumstances.

You need to know what you’ve got. Pieces that appear to be gold may not be worth gold’s weight. Many times, gold is mixed with other metals to increase its strength. The less gold, the less value. This applies to gold plated items as well. If you do not know for sure the value of your gold piece, have it appraised before presenting it for sale.

Use a magnet to quickly determine whether an item is really made of gold or another precious metal. It is true that precious metals are not attracted to magnets. Sometimes you’ll find a clasp to be something solid, but everything else is plated. The magnet test is an excellent way to find out.

While many people think that investing in general is hard, investing in gold is not hard if you learn a little about how it works. You’re better prepared to get into the gold market and make smart decisions thanks to the advice you’ve just received. Get the most from your money by applying each of these ideas to your investment strategy.