Buying Pre-Owned Expired Live Domains
By Vic on Mar 22, 2008 in Domains
Around 40% of registered domain names are deleted each year and about 25,000 domain names are deleted each day. Most of these expiring domain names still have people visiting. This visiting traffic is valuable in dollars and cents. But if that expired domain still has a live site you might just cash in quick and easy.
Domain owners generally fail to renew because they:
1. Were too busy to develop the site,
2. Couldn’t afford to maintain it any longer,
3. Went out of business,
4. Lost interest (this is usually the main reason),
5. Simply forgot to renew and therefore the domain is now free for re-registration.
Such expired domain names can have a high re-sale value, but they are a lot like a used vehicle. You have to be careful to find the Diamonds in the Rough. You need to look under the hood to understand why the previous owner let it go.
The value of a domain is not solely about the quantity of links pointing to it, it is quality of the links as well that counts and what the domain is used for. SO the next time you see a domain with a legit live site consider how valuable it is to the current owner 
Popularity: 64% [?]
I just bid on my first domain. Of course, I had to register for the $4.99/year on tdnam.com(godaddy)
I will make it a Ban site(first) but I must get my eBay id first. I registered last Sunday for it on CJ. Bad luck I guest. :p
How did you estimated that it was worth $500?
Steve I wanted to explain better so I answered on the latest comment vlog post
If we buy expired domains can we put Adsense up straight away or do we have to wait a couple of months?
Thanks
April
I would put Adsense on it. If it’s expired, it must be out of the sandbox in most cases.
I got my first one today. It’s not the one I intended(above) but it’s almost 5 years with no PR but brandable. I need to wait 7 days for the transfer.
Vic: Is is better an old site with no PR(5 years) or a newer site with PR(1-2 years)?
I would take age over PR all day long. We can always get ranking easy but time it is what it is.
Really good question I am making a comments video.
Another question about aged domains: when I’ve been searching tdnam I use the firefox seo tool to quickly look to see how many links it has etc. When it comes to age it obviously uses Alexa however when I look at the whois the date is very differnt.
For instance I saw one which according to Alexa is several years old yet the whois shows that it’s only one year old.
Which age should we look at?
April
For age go by the WhoIs this is what counts as this is what Google looks from the registrar.
Hi Vic,
I just found your site today, and I must say you rock! I wish I would have found your site months ago. You have a great no-bullshit attitude and I love it. You have a new reader and fan.
I just had a quick question in your videos you recommend to get .info domains for the BANS sites. Are .info’s really better than .coms? or is it just that they are cheap ($0.99).
Thanks and I look forward to your response.
Keep up the Good Work!
No info not better then .com just way stupid cheap LMAO!!!
btw shoot sorry welcome I am all over the place today
Vic, just starting to buy pre-owned domains, and I am loving it. Going to buy 2 or 3 domains today.
Thanks
Chad
That is hilarious! But, like you say, it is what it is. Well done to you Vic!
Hey Vic,
Enjoyed your video! In the last 2 months i made $2500 from 3 sites doing exact same thing. Some advise to anybody that wants it.
1) After you get the domain do some research on the company and then set your price. i got $1500 from a golf course builder pr3 domain.(may should of asked for 5k)
2) Don’t get intimidated..stick to your guns.
Good Luck!!
Gene