(What to Do When Your Perfect Name Isn’t Available)
You’ve found the perfect domain for your brand… but it’s already registered. Maybe it points to a live site, or maybe it’s parked with a “This domain may be for sale” banner. Either way — you want it, but you can’t just add it to your cart.
Here’s how to buy a domain that’s already taken, unavailable, or listed as premium — and how to do it without getting burned.
First, Understand Why It’s Not Available
There are three main reasons a domain is “taken”:
1. It’s actively used
Someone owns it and it points to a live website. This may be harder (but not impossible) to buy.
2. It’s parked
The domain goes to a “coming soon” page or shows ads — the owner may be open to selling.
3. It’s listed as a premium domain
Domain registrars mark some domains as “premium” due to demand, keywords, or branding potential — often with a hefty price tag ($500–$50,000+).
Step 1: Check Who Owns the Domain
Use a WHOIS lookup tool to see domain ownership details:
If the WHOIS is private, look for a domain sales inquiry form on the landing page or try contacting the registrar listed.
Step 2: Contact the Owner
If contact info is public, send a short, professional email:
Tips:
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Don’t sound desperate
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Don’t make your first offer too high
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Be ready to negotiate
Step 3: Use a Domain Broker (Optional)
If you don’t want to negotiate yourself, consider hiring a domain broker to act on your behalf.
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GoDaddy Domain Broker Service
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Sedo.com
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DomainAgents.com
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XMLA clients: Contact XMLA Support — we can handle this for you
Brokers can handle negotiation, escrow, and closing securely — especially helpful if the domain is expensive or owned internationally.
Step 4: Use a Secure Payment and Escrow Service
Never wire money or PayPal a stranger for a domain — use escrow services that protect both buyer and seller.
Recommended services:
Once payment clears, the seller will transfer the domain to your registrar.
What About Premium Domains?
If a domain is marked Premium at your registrar (like GoDaddy or Namecheap), it means the owner has listed it for resale — often at a high price.
What to do:
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Add it to cart and go through the checkout process
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You may need to verify ownership transfer
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Once purchased, the domain is usually pushed to your registrar account within 1–7 days
Tip: Premium domains are expensive for a reason — they often contain powerful keywords or brand value. If you’re serious about your brand, it may be worth the investment.
Final Tips Before Buying
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Verify the domain doesn’t have a bad history (e.g., spam, blacklisting) — use tools like https://archive.org or https://mxtoolbox.com/blacklists.aspx
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Negotiate respectfully, even if the price feels high
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Secure the transfer only through a trusted escrow or registrar
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Consider alternative domains or spellings if your ideal domain is unavailable or overpriced
Need Help?
At XMLA, we help our clients acquire taken domains, negotiate pricing, and manage secure transfers — whether you're chasing a premium name or buying from a private seller.
Want us to help you acquire a domain? Contact XMLA Support and let’s lock down your brand online.