Often people feel that gold is a safe investment. A lot of investors will say that gold is a great place to park your money during times of economic uncertainty. Keep reading if you are interested in learning more.

Before you purchase a gold piece, know when it is going to be delivered. If this is not possible, make sure you get a written contract outlining when the items will arrive. This should include the date the gold will arrive to you buy. Don’t go through with the order if they can’t provide you with the delivery date in writing.

If you are thinking about selling some of your gold jewelry, know what the going market price for gold is. That way you will be able to ascertain if a dealer is providing you with a fair price or not for your pieces. Many gold dealers will pay market value; however, some dealers try to get your gold cheap.

If you are looking to gold as a retirement vehicle, be certain you invest in the proper kinds of gold. It has to be IRS approved. That means only 24 karat and only coins or bullion. If you can, purchase bars rather than coins since they are more valuable.

If you don’t know what your gold jewelry is worth, consider having an appraisal done. Although appraisals cost money, you will know the value of your items. Use an accredited appraiser for best results. If you’re going to sell the gold you have, you’re not going to get the appraisal value.

Exercise great care when you’re getting into gold trading. Any market has its bad companies, but the gold market is notorious for having a lot of them. There are lots of people that want to rip you off by not giving you what you’re owed. Doing a good amount of research will ensure that you are getting the very best deal.

When dealing with any gold buyer, make sure you shop around before making any final decisions. The offers may be hugely varied. If you don’t shop around, you may not get what you are owed. Spend a bit of time on the front end so you get the most profit out of the transaction.

You don’t have to own gold to invest in it. Stocks in gold mining or gold based mutual funds are two such alternatives. Buying gold bars or coins involves considerable storage. Remember you must keep these things in a safe place.

When selling gold, categorize it by karat weight. A vendor may scam you by weighing what you have together by the lowest weight in karat. You’ll lose out on a lot of potential profit this way. Be safe and maximize your value by having all the gold separated before dealing with the buyer.

Sending your gold away via postal mail is one option for selling it. A lot of people who sell gold prefer this simple option. A prepaid envelope comes to you; you place your jewelry inside and send it back to the company. With the extra expense and the tendency of these companies to pay lower premiums, your profits may be deleted quickly. Be aware of the fact that you may receive approximately 30% less in some instances.

Look at every form you need to sign when working with gold dealers. This is a business transaction after all. Make sure you completely understand the contract you are signing. If you don’t agree with their terms, find another dealer. Protecting yourself is hugely important.

Avoid selling gold for no reason. Gold prices are always going up. Even though it has been high lately, it could eventually get even higher. You may be able to sell your gold for even more later if you hold onto it now.

It is easy to invest in gold when you understand the gold market. Now that you have read these great tips about gold, nothing should prevent you from participating in this market. Remember to make full use of all the information at your disposal in order to make savvy investments.