US domain aftermarket volume: $3.2 billion annually. Average .com sale price: $1,847. But 78% of listed domains never sell - most overpriced by sellers.
Major US Marketplaces
Afternic (owned by GoDaddy, largest US network), Sedo (global but strong US presence), GoDaddy Auctions (active bidder community), NameJet (expired domain auctions), Dan.com (modern interface).
Buy Now vs Make Offer
"Buy Now" price is seller's wishful thinking (usually 3-5x market value). "Make Offer" opens negotiation. Always use Make Offer even if Buy Now seems reasonable - seller often accepts 40-60% of listed price.
Opening Offer Strategy
Start at 20-30% of asking price. Seller counters at 70-80%. Meet in middle at 45-55%. Cash payment (no installments) justifies additional 10% discount. Total savings: 45-50% vs asking.
Auction Dynamics
GoDaddy/NameJet run 7-day auctions. Bidding starts £5-50 depending on domain quality. Last-minute bid extends auction 5 minutes (soft close prevents sniping). Set max bid beforehand to avoid emotional overbidding.
Auction fever: 43% of auction winners pay more than they intended. Set hard maximum before bidding starts. Walk away if exceeded.
Expired Domain Auctions
NameJet, SnapNames specialize in catching expired domains. If multiple people backorder same domain, triggers auction. Opening bid: $60. Can escalate to $thousands for premium keywords. Research domain history first.
Broker-Assisted Purchases
Domain over $10,000? Hire broker. Afternic/Sedo offer brokerage service (10-15% commission). Broker negotiates anonymously, preventing seller from researching you and raising price.
Due Diligence Checklist
Before buying: 1) Check trademark database (USPTO.gov) - name might be trademarked. 2) Google Safe Browsing - domain might be blacklisted. 3) Wayback Machine - see previous use. 4) WHOIS history - ownership changes.
Red Flags
Domain used for pharma spam (ruins SEO value). Recent ownership changes every 6 months (flippers). Asking price jumped 10x in last month (seller sees your interest). Pressure tactics from seller ("other buyer ready").
Escrow Is Mandatory
Never pay seller directly for domains over $500. Use Escrow.com (industry standard, $25-$100 fee) or marketplace escrow (Sedo/Afternic include free). Escrow protects both parties from fraud.
Transfer Process
After escrow confirms payment: Seller unlocks domain. Seller provides auth code. Buyer initiates transfer at new registrar. Transfer takes 5-7 days. Escrow releases payment only after buyer confirms receipt.
Negotiation Leverage
Cash payment upfront (vs installments), quick close (seller wants immediate payout), buying multiple domains from same seller (volume discount). Each worth 5-10% discount. Combined: 15-30% off negotiated price.
Payment timing leverage: "I can close in 48 hours with cash payment" beats "I need financing over 12 months". Sellers discount for speed and certainty.
Valuation Reality Check
Seller asking $25,000. NameBio.com shows comparable 2-word .com domains in same niche sold for $3,000-6,000 last 12 months. Counter-offer $3,500. Use comparables to justify lower price.
Walking Away
If seller won't budge below your max price, walk away. Premium domains sit for years. 60% of sellers eventually lower price. Bookmark domain and check back in 3-6 months.
Trademark Lens checks trademark conflicts on domains you're considering purchasing - avoid legal battles by verifying name isn't trademarked before $thousands investment.