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Selling a domain: valuation & related issues

by VinnieVegas
8 replies
I just got an email from a guy that wants to buy a domain I own. I just use the domain for my personal email address and I have a perfunctory personal website on it. I registered it way back in 1997, I think. There is no page rank or traffic to speak of.

I never considered selling it since it is my first domain and I like the consistency of having an email address for that long a time.

So I researched selling the site and used three valuation tools. To my surprise, these are the results I got:

URL Appraisal: $15,659.77
EstiBot: $26,000
Valuate: $26,000

Well, at those prices I can easily lose my sentimentality and get a new email addy without a problem.

I know a site's value is whatever anyone would pay for it, but i have a hard time believing my domain is worth anywhere near as much as this.

How accurate are these valuations? Any experience with this? I don't know if the guy who contacted me would go that high, but if these figures are reliable, I'll start transitioning my permanent email address to another new domain.

Thanks.
#domain #issues #related #selling #valuation
  • Profile picture of the author Adie
    Estibot seems pretty close. I used it several times and the difference from the actual cost is always slim. I don't know what domain it is but I think the price is pretty intimidating.
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    • Profile picture of the author VinnieVegas
      Originally Posted by Adie View Post

      Estibot seems pretty close. I used it several times and the difference from the actual cost is always slim. I don't know what domain it is but I think the price is pretty intimidating.
      It is an intimidating price, indeed. And by that I mean it intimidates me! Hahahah!

      It is a .com, 7 letter word, 2 syllable word. I think it could have a possible use for an online casino, but that's just speculation on my part.

      If it really is worth $25k+, I imagine it would take a while to find a buyer. I don't know a thing about domain auctions or flippa, or NO-NO-NO-NO-NO-NO-NO- auctions. I suppose I will have to look into it now.

      This guy had contacted me before but with a very lowball offer, which I dismissed immediately. Now he contacted me again, months later. Same guy. I don't think he is a big buyer, just a guy with a company with the same name and probably wants to use it for an active site.

      Then again, it could be an agent for someone with bigger plans for the site and trying to buy it for a couple of hundred dollars.

      I'm in over my head already. I know what I don't now. Gotta start learning.

      Thanks for the response.
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  • Profile picture of the author OLechat
    One option is to start a Flippa listing with this guy's offer as the opening bid, keep the reserve at whatever amount would make it worth it for you to sell, and have him bid on it first, then see if others are willing to beat that offer.
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    • Profile picture of the author VinnieVegas
      Originally Posted by OLechat View Post

      One option is to start a Flippa listing with this guy's offer as the opening bid, keep the reserve at whatever amount would make it worth it for you to sell, and have him bid on it first, then see if others are willing to beat that offer.
      I am looking into different resources that sell or auction domains. I'm pretty sure I am selling it and changing my personal email domain. Any recommendations for a service that handles this besides flippa? Thanks.
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      • Profile picture of the author OLechat
        Well, as a Flippa employee, I can't really recommend another platform

        But we do have the highest sale rate of any website marketplace, both by raw numbers (almost $90 million in sales) and in percentage (51% of sites listed in the last 3 months have sold).

        If you're interested in selling, have a look at our seller guide: flippa.com/guides, or feel free to PM me.
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  • Profile picture of the author Sharon Hayes
    Most automated appraisals are rubbish.

    Here's a video from our company with some free tips on selling domains.

    We also have many posts giving tips on domain valuation etc here.

    Good luck!
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  • Profile picture of the author Andy_UK
    At least you dismissed the first low ball offer.

    Take those free appraisels with a pinch of salt. If you have a genuine buyer or a premium domain then always get a professional appraisal.

    I learnt my lesson the hard way. I took $4k for a domain and the buyer immediately put the domain on sale for 500k.
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  • Profile picture of the author Sushiman1111
    Okay, disclaimer time: I've never sold a domain and don't know the first thing about doing so. But I just checked a domain name on estibot, one that I've owned and been selling stuff on for about three years (and make over $10K a year with at the moment), and it told me the domain was worthless. As in, zero dollars.

    So I'd take with not just a grain, but a large handful, of sodium chloride if I were you.
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