How to Buy Expired Domains
If you've tried searching for the perfect domain name, you might have found that it's already been registered by someone else. You don't need to give up hope, however. If the person who registered it lets it expire, you may be able to claim it for yourself. Once the registration has lapsed, many domain companies place the name up for auction so people can bid on it. If the domain doesn't go to auction, then it will become available for anyone to register.
Instructions
Difficulty:
Step 1
Visit WhoIs.net to find out when the domain that you want expires.
Step 2
Wait for the domain to expire. If the owner hasn't renewed his domain by the time the expiration date arrives, there's a good chance that he won't. He automatically receives a grace period of 30 to 40 days to renew the domain without penalty. After the grace period is over, there is another waiting period until the name can be released to the public. The whole process takes approximately 75 days.
Step 3
Bid on the domain. Some registrars automatically place expired domains into an auction. In this case, you need to register with the company that has the domain and bid on it.
Step 4
Hire a company to secure the domain name. Other people aren't the only entities that might want your domain name. There are companies that routinely purchase expired domain for resale. They use their resources to secure domains the moment they are released to the public. If you are after a desirable domain, you may wish to hire a company to do the competing for you. For a fee, these companies will acquire your domain. This fee can range from $30 to $100 plus whatever the cost of purchasing the domain is. If it ends up that several people want to bid on the domain, this could mean hundreds or thousands of dollars.
Step 5
Purchase the domain. If no one else wants the domain and the registrar has closed the auction, the domain could become available for purchase through the regular channel. In that case, simply search for it on a domain provider's website and then purchase it as you would a new domain name.
References
Resources
Tips & Warnings
- If you end up bidding on your domain, you may never know if there are additional bidders. Always bid what you think the domain is worth and what you can afford, not what you think someone else might bid.
Article Written By Robin Noelle
Robin Noelle is a professional writer living and working in Northern California. She has a degree in Journalism and a background in high tech public relations. She is the author of travel guides and end-user computer books.