If you’re sitting on a domain you don’t use anymore — or one you registered with selling in mind — here’s how to actually move it.
1. Verify ownership
Before a marketplace will list your domain, it needs proof you control it. Two paths:
- DNS TXT record: the marketplace gives you a unique string; you add it as a TXT record on the domain. They verify within a few minutes. Lighter touch — your DNS stays where it is.
- Nameserver change: you point the domain’s nameservers to the marketplace’s. They verify the change and your listing goes live. Heavier — they manage DNS while listed, which means they can also serve a polished landing page on the domain itself.
Pick TXT if you’re listing one or two; nameserver if you’re running a portfolio and want every name to show a sales landing page automatically.
2. Decide how to price
Three pricing modes:
- Buy It Now (BIN): a fixed price. Cleanest, fastest transactions. Use when you have conviction about your number.
- Make an offer: no published price. You set a
min_offer_usdfloor; buyers submit; you accept, counter, or reject. Best for one-of-a-kind names where comp data is thin. - Auction: timed, public bidding. Works best for names with proven buyer pull (high traffic, multiple offers).
Don’t overthink the first listing. A make-offer with a reasonable floor will tell you within a few weeks whether your asking price was anywhere near reality.
3. Write a listing that converts
The SEO description (1-2 sentences explaining what the domain is good for) is load-bearing for two reasons. AI search engines + Google index it for discovery. And buyers scanning the marketplace card decide in 2-3 seconds whether to click through.
Bad: “Premium domain available for serious buyers.” Good: “Short, brandable .com for fintech or crypto wallet products. 8 letters, dictionary-word readable, no hyphens.”
Be specific. Say what kind of business would want it. Ambiguity makes buyers drop off.
4. Handle the transfer
When a sale closes, you get a notification. The buyer pays into escrow.com. You initiate the transfer:
- Same registrar (push): log in, push the domain to the buyer’s account. Instant.
- Different registrar (transfer): unlock the domain at your registrar, request the EPP code (auth-code), and send it to the buyer through the marketplace’s chat. They submit it at their registrar; the transfer takes 5-7 days.
Once the buyer confirms receipt, escrow releases your funds (minus the marketplace + escrow fees). Standard payout windows are 24-72 hours after release.
Common rookie mistakes
- Asking 10× market. Look at NameBio comps. A 4-letter .com that comps to $3K won’t sell at $30K just because you want it to.
- Going dark in chat. A buyer who messages you and doesn’t get a reply within 48 hours moves on.
- Bypassing escrow. Even a $200 transaction should go through escrow. Off-platform deals are how buyers get scammed and how sellers lose marketplace reputation.