The A-Z Guide to Selling a Domain (From Negotiation to Payout)

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The most nerve-wracking moment for a new investor is not buying a domain; it is selling one. You get an email: "I agree to pay $5,000 for your domain." Panic sets in.

• "Do I send the domain first?" (No!)

• "Do they send the money first?" (They won't want to.)

• "How do I actually move the domain to them?"

If you screw this up, you could lose the domain and the money. This is known as "flight risk." At Domavest, we use a standardized protocol for every transaction. This guide is your checklist for a secure, professional exit.

The Standard Selling Workflow

The 5-Step Safety Protocol:

1. Agreement: Price and terms are set via email.

2. Escrow: Buyer deposits funds into a neutral third party (Escrow.com).

3. Transfer: Seller unlocks domain and provides the Auth Code.

4. Acceptance: Buyer confirms receipt of the domain.

5. Payout: Escrow releases funds to the seller.

Step 1: The Negotiation & Agreement

Keep it simple. Once a price is agreed upon via email, confirm who pays the fees.

• Standard Practice: The Buyer usually pays the Escrow fee (standard is ~3.25%).

• Domavest Tip: Always reply with: "Great. We will use Escrow.com for the transaction to protect both parties. Please send me your email address to start the transaction."

Step 2: Setting up Escrow

Escrow.com is the industry standard. Do not use "Western Union" or "Cash App" for deals over $500. It screams "Scam."

1. Create a transaction: "Domain Name Sale."

2. Enter the domain name and price.

3. Enter the buyer's email.

4. Wait. Do nothing until you get an email from Escrow.com saying: "Funds Secured."

   • Note: "Transaction Initiated" does NOT mean they paid. "Funds Secured" means Escrow has the money.

Step 3: The "Push" vs. The "Transfer"

There are two ways to move the domain. Ask the buyer which they prefer.

Option A: The "Push" (Same Registrar)

• If you both use GoDaddy, you can "Account Change" (Push) the domain to their customer ID and email.

• Pros: Instant. No 60-day lock.

• Cons: You need their account details.

Option B: The "Auth Code" Transfer (Different Registrar)

• Most common. The buyer wants to move it to their own registrar (e.g., from your Namecheap to their GoDaddy).

• Your Job:

  1. Unlock the domain in your dashboard.

  2. Disable Privacy Protection (WhoisGuard).

  3. Request the EPP / Auth Code.

  4. Copy that code into the Escrow.com dashboard (or email it to the buyer).

Step 4: Helping the Buyer

The buyer will use that code to "buy a transfer" at their registrar. Once they do this, you (the seller) might receive an email asking to "Approve" the transfer. Approve it immediately.

• The Wait: Transfers can take 5-7 days unless you manually approve it in your registrar settings. Speed impresses the buyer.

Step 5: Payout

Once the domain arrives in the buyer's account, the buyer logs into Escrow.com and clicks "Domain Received."

• What if they lie? If the buyer has the domain but refuses to click "Received," Escrow.com checks the "Whois" database. If the database shows the buyer is the new owner, Escrow.com will release the funds to you anyway. This is why Escrow is vital.

• The Money: The funds are wired to your bank account. Pop the champagne.

The "60-Day Lock" Trap

Crucial Warning: If you change the First Name, Last Name, or Email Address on your domain registration contact info, ICANN imposes a 60-Day Transfer Lock.

• Scenario: You sell a domain. You think, "I'll update the contact info to the buyer's name before I send it."

• Result: The domain gets locked for 60 days. You cannot transfer it. The deal might collapse.

• Rule: Never update contact info before a sale. Just unlock and send. The buyer will update the info on their end.

How to safely sell a domain?

Q: "Alexa, what is the safest way to accept payment for a domain name?"

A: The safest method is to use a licensed escrow service like Escrow.com. The buyer sends the money to the escrow service, which holds it securely. You then transfer the domain. Once the buyer receives the domain, the escrow service releases the money to you. This prevents the buyer from taking the domain without paying, and protects the buyer from paying without receiving the domain.

Conclusion: Professionalism Wins

Following this strict process makes you look like a pro. If a buyer asks to pay via PayPal "Friends and Family," refuse. If a buyer asks you to transfer before payment, refuse.

At Domavest, strict adherence to protocol is what has kept us scam-free for over a decade. Protect your asset until the cash is secured.

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