Since long, gold buying has been considered to be among the safest financial investments.
However, one needs to take some precautions and necessary steps to make its purchase not so taxing and as profitable as possible.
For instance, the purity of gold must be established before buying the metal, and the reputation of the seller and their return policies need to be considered.
There are many sources for buying gold.
The best way is to explore various sources before finally buying from the most reliable source offering it at the lowest price.
For instance, buying gold from dealers may prove to be the most expensive option, but you get the facility of talking to the subject in person.
It is always desirable to check the credential of a dealer with the Better Business Bureau.
You can find many online dealers selling gold.
One way to make out the reputation of the dealer is to check the feedback provided by other clients of the same dealer.
It's not unusual for online dealers to sell small items just to boost their online rating.
So, it helps to go through the details of items bought by other customers.
Another helpful precaution you can take is to use the option of having an escrow account if purchasing gold online.
It allows you to hold your funds till you get your consignment of gold, subsequent to which the company holding the escrow amount releases it to the dealer who supplied your ordered goods.
Another helpful measure that should not escape your attention is to ask the supplier of gold for shipping insurance to cover the price of the gold in transit.
In the unfortunate incident of gold getting lost during transportation, the buyer can expect to be compensated toward the entire cost of gold.
The most common forms of gold available for consumers comprise of bars and coins.
Generally, gold bars have a consistent quality.
The size of gold bars may vary from small to very large, depending on the customers' requirements.
Gold coins, on the other hand, are generally graded to asses their quality.
It is imperative to have gold coins graded by a reputed grading service.
Moreover, the grading should have been done recently.
That's because grading tables change frequently, meaning a coin that was graded many years before may have a different grading in the present.
Another important consideration for purchasing gold is its purity, which is measured in terms of carats.
24-carat gold is the purest form of gold.
The less the carats, the more impurities it may contain.
It should also be pointed out here that gold coins are usually less expensive compared to gold bars mainly because of their quality.
When you consider investing in gold coins, do check the buy back policy, especially when buying online, to ensure that the coins can be sent back if they do not look satisfactory.
You should also understand that, for deriving maximum benefits from your investment in gold, it should be retained for long.
Buying and selling it frequently is not so profitable.
For the most dependable investment in gold, you should seek advice of a professional company of long-standing.
Advice may also be sought from an individual, but care should be taken to ensure that he is registered.
Law makes it obligatory for professionals to provide advice without any clash of interests.
Usually, investment advisors provide advice by charging a fee.
They offer services by way of sending newsletters to their clients periodically, though some of them offer individual consultation services.