Can I Buy A Domain?

You want to buy a domain name for your company, but you realize that the domain name has already been taken. You really want this domain name. No other name depicts your company or website character the way this one does. Fortunately for you, the domain name you want is not being utilized or is being underutilized by the registrant. Why not try to purchase the domain name for yourself?

It can be difficult to buy an already registered domain, but it is not impossible. The difficulty depends on the amount of maintenance the website is receiving. It’s obvious that an extremely up-to-date domain will be difficult to purchase. The owner is apparently putting the website to use and is benefiting from it. However, a website that is out-of-date, missing data/pictures, or contains broken links is much more likely to be sold.

Other domains that you may be able to buy are commission-only sites and “under construction” sites. Commission-only domains link to either related or unrelated sponsor sites. The registrant makes commission each time a person connects from the domain to the sponsor sites. Since, the registrant does not have any long term plans for the site himself, he may be willing to sell it. “Under construction” sites that have been in that status for an extended period of time are a possibility, because serious registrants do not take long to display an active webpage.

There are two ways to inquire about buying a domain. First, you may make a casual inquiry. Send an email stating that you have noticed that the domain is inactive or not fully developed and you would like to know their plans for it. Do not mention that you would like to buy the domain, because the registrant may try to hike up the selling price. Let the registrant make the offer and negotiate from there. The second inquiry can be more formal and you do mention a buying price. However, mention a price lower than the actual amount you are willing to buy the domain. Though, you do not offer a price so low that you insult the registrant. This way your registrant can either except the price, or ask for more and you will still have room for negotiation.

Once a selling price has been agreed upon, you may proceed to buy the domain. Make sure you do the following: clarify the terms of the deal, set up an automatic, quick payment system (PayPal or something similar); transfer the domain name; confirm the transformation, and thank the previous registrant for their business.