I usually spend a couple hours a morning using Freshdrop to see what domain names will be coming up for auction later this evening at NameJet, and what will be up for auction in a month or so (if the names aren’t renewed). There are certain traits I look for in the domain names I monitor to purchase, but I want to share a tip with you that might help you buy some good domain names that can quickly be flipped.
After you’ve set your personal filters based on your preferences, I recommend having a look to see who owns the same domain names in different extensions. You should also use the Whois history tool to see who previously owned the domain name that is dropping.
This information is invaluable to me, and it should be beneficial to you as well. Let’s say you’re bidding on a legal domain name, and you see a large law firm owns the .net. Assuming the name is a descriptive name rather than a branded name (or name of a lawyer for instance), you may want to target that name to buy at auction, with the hopes of selling it to the owner of another extension.
It’s likely that the owner of the other extension would be interested in upgrading to the .com domain name if you are able to win it at auction. Of course the obvious caveat is that you need to wait until you win said domain name, especially if it’s a lawyer that might think you are attempting to sell an item that does not belong to you. You also need to make sure it is descriptive and not someone’s trademark or service mark.
There may be limitations on how quickly you can transfer or push a domain name depending on the registrar, but it’s a great way to find leads for domain names you might want to purchase.
Elliot,
Good info. I’ve been successful at this a few times. Beware of the 60 day auction lock placed on Enom domains won in Pre-release Namejet auctions. You can’t even push domains to another Enom account during that 60 day period. Basically, you have to wait two months before you can try and flip it. This can easily tie up your funds, especially if your participating in the big dollar auctions.
-Bill
@ Bill
I think it’s around 42 days at Enom. When I win Net Sol names, I transfer them immediately.
Why don’t you just contact the owner of dot net that the dot com is available for registration or bid on it…
IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO!!!
Thanks for this clue; there is sense behind it. Cheers.
The “auction lock” and registry freeze placed by eNom on names registered/managed with eNom won via NameJet is not 60 days or 45… It is around 39/40 days tops.
@ wanna
It’s actually 42 days:
https://www.domaininvesting.com/enom-names-won-on-namejet-subject-to-45-day-auction-lock-1522
yeah, I’ve sold many domains like that. Works better for cheaper domains, don’t ask too much, great for $$$ sale.
Personally i stay clear of these “law” firm domain names..
Maybe it is that i work with ccTLD’s but these law firms only gave me headaches…They have no idea what they are doing … they make alot of fuss .. And they start ADR’s and those are a bad thing for the domain owners in some countries…
Maybe i am just discouraged by the WIPO’s in the past .. The last one i seen was from Carlos Slim….Took me 30 minutes to go thru all the claims and whatever they send…
Elliot,
I see that a few names are listed at DynaDot. I have never used them. Have you ever used them and what was the experience like?
Thanks,
Adi
Good point BullS.
This strategy looks like a roadmap for a bad faith UDRP. Sorry Elliot.
@ LOL
On a descriptive/generic domain name? Come on… LOL is what I’d say.
Sure, it would be an issue if you buy a trademark .com where the holder owns .net, but a name like DrugDefenseLawyer.com or PawtucketAttorney.com? That’s a very defensible UDRP if it came to that.
The premise is that you’d need to buy descriptive domain names, not trademark names.
@Elliot,
I stand corrected. I did not catch that you were talking about descriptive names.
LOL