Many people want to invest in gold today, especially with so many reality shows about the topic. There aren’t enough gold investors that are knowledgeable enough about the market, though. Read the tips here to help you get a handle on how these markets work and how you can make money.

When you invest in gold, you can’t go wrong with bullion bars. The weights of these items may vary. The bullion bars come in half ounce bars and increase up to large bars weighing 400 ounces. Four hundred ounce bars will be hard to locate.

Melt Value

Prior to doing anything with gold, be it buying or selling, you must become knowledgeable about how pricing operates. The values of precious metals fluctuate daily, so be certain you know the spot price before any transaction. You also will have to pay more than melt value, but you will sell below melt value.

Look online for the most reputable gold buyer you can find. You can read reviews online, check with the Better Business Bureau and discover how each dealer resolves customer complaints. You have a better chance of getting the highest possible price for your gold when you obtain bids from a number of different gold buyers.

You can get varying prices depending on how you sell it. Some buyers, including a lot of private sellers and pawn shops, only care about melt value. Never let this dissuade you, however, as you are sure to locate an appropriate buyer eventually.

Only make a sale to buyers who hold a state license in buying gold. Although anyone could rip you off, the chances are slim when working with someone who is licensed. There are a lot of stores and individuals that will buy gold, so don’t feel like you have to sell to the first person you come across.

Know what you have. Pieces that appear to be gold may not be worth gold’s weight. Quite often, other metals are mixed with gold to give some strength to the metal. This will lower it’s worth. Many items are only gold plated. If you are not certain about what you have, an appraisal before selling is wise.

Be sure you know what everything in your sales contract says. If you choose to sell your gold through one of the many mail-in gold purchasers, carefully read the fine print before selling your gold. There are going to be some fees and commissions to consider, and you don’t want them to be too steep.

Before you sell your jewelry for scrap gold, have them appraised. You may have pieces that are worth more than their weight in gold due to historic or artistic value. Even though the appraisal will cost you money, you may get more for your jewelry in return. Appraisers might be aware of someone that wants to purchase your jewelry.

People are getting excited about the prospect of making money using the gold markets. Most people don’t know what steps to take, though. This article should give you a basic understanding of how to trade gold.