How To Get Expiring Domain

If it's something that you want, there's a near 100% chance it'll be renewed by the current owner. That's just the way it is in the world of ~$10 renewals. Most people keep renewing even domains they don't really want anymore.

But assuming he does let it go..... You would need to wait for the grace renewal period and then redemption period to end before you know for sure that it's expiring. These periods vary from place to place. Where is it registered at right now?

You need to get a domain back-order service.

After the domain expires there is like 60 (estimate) period where the own stills get a chance to renew it.

Then it is sent to open auction. If you have back order service you'll be entered in this auction.

I like to try to use the domain back-order service from the current registar.

Perhaps a safe path is contacting the owner. Beat the auction and 60 day process. But as mentioned it is most likely an oversight.

I once worked for an IT company that forgot to renew their domain .. all hell broke loose when it expired. It was quickly resolved but again just an VERY stupid oversight.

If you like to obtain that specific domain name, then you should backorder it + contact the owner if they like to transfer it to you.

But if you are (or anyone) looking for expired domains then godaddy is the biggest auction place. Visit this site: http://moonsy.com/expired_domains/

They list these domains that are in auction by godaddy. This site also list these sites by page rank, domain age, moz rank, dmoz listing and many more factors. I found this site very useful for finding about expired domains for free.

If the owner lets it expire, you will still have approximately 80 days to wait before it becomes available for you (or anyone else) to register. Your best bet, other than contacting the buyer, is to place a back-order at either snapnames.com or namejet.com. These are the two most effective drop-catch services. They have systems in place to make multiple attempts to register the domain name on your behalf the moment it becomes available.

There's some good info here How to Snatch an Expiring Domain | Mike Industries

It is a private registration, prob should have mentioned that. I suppose there is no way to contact them then?

You may be able to contact them through the registrar, but the odds of opening a line of communication are so slim that your pretty much wasting your efforts.

Set a date in your calendar for a week or so after the domain expires and check the whois record. If they have not renewed the domain by that point, it will go into a redemption period where the old owner could get it back through the original registrar. I thought this period was 60 days, but it seems there are differing opinions here.

So, if it hasn't been renewed 7 days after it expires, set another calendar date for 52 days from then and check the whois record again... Did they renew it? if not, it will be popping up at one of the domain auction/reseller sites. Usually you can tell which one by the whois record.

We have used snapnames.com several times to purchase expired domains and have had great luck with their services... Which is a division of 'Moniker' and you would see '
Moniker' in the whois record if it will be coming available for auction through them.

You would have to see where the domain is currently registered at. Then check out their policy as far as your question goes.