There are so many upsides to buying an expired domain name instead of a regular one.
Whether it’s brandability, SEO value, or unavailability of similar witty names, expired domain names have found a lot of favor in most people’s eyes. But these domain names don’t just fall from the sky.
So what happens when a domain expires? How do domain names become what we now refer to as expired domains put up for sale in domain marketplaces?
Let’s find out.
What Happens When a Domain Name Expires?
When a domain name expires, it becomes inactive almost immediately, and any service attached to it stops functioning. In this state, the domain can’t be hosted, i.e., associated with a hosting service and consequently a website.
In these early stages of expiration, the domain remains available for reactivation in your list of expired domains at the regular renewal rate.
This is not the case for all domains, as some domain names are auto-renew only. These domains have no grace period and cannot be manually renewed. Once expired, you cannot recover them.
So, let’s see what happens when a domain expires.
ICANN Top Level Domains
The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) set up a policy that requires registrars to send domain owners appropriate renewal reminders just before their domain names expire.
This policy only governs top-level domains—like .net and .com—under ICANN and helps prevent sudden loss of one’s domain ownership.
However, if the owner of the domain still fails to renew it, there are a couple of stages a domain will go through:
1. Grace Period
Immediately after a domain expires, it enters a grace period, during which the domain is disabled. However, it’s still possible to renew it at no extra cost.
It’s important to note that some registrars do not guarantee a grace period for the renewal of top-level domains. In that case, once a domain expires, they may dispose of it according to the registration agreement. So, it’s essential to check for a registrar’s domain expiration policy.
Generally, the domain may enter a redemption grace period if the grace period elapses.
2. Redemption Period
The redemption grace period comes after the registrar issues a delete request to the registry. Only the previous owner can recover the domain during this time, and it must be done through the previous registrar.
The redemption grace period has different names for different top-level domains. For example, the .org TLD is “Pending Delete – Restorable.”
Registrars often include a mandatory fee on top of the standard renewal price for domains in redemption status. Therefore, the owner will have to pay the standard renewal fee plus the imposed redemption fee to renew the domain.
3. Deletion Period
If for some reason, the domain owner fails to renew ownership in the redemption grace period, the domain bears a “Pending Delete” tag for a 5-day time frame after redemption. At this time, the domain enters the possession of the registry, and it cannot be recovered.
Once the registry deletes the domain, it becomes available for anyone to purchase as a new domain on a first-come-first-served basis. Yes, including the previous owner.
Non-ICANN Top Level Domains
The above-mentioned time frames only apply to ICANN top-level domains. Domains outside ICANN regulations like .UK, and .IO may or may not follow these rules.
In other words, they may or may not provide a grace or redemption period. And if they do, the duration may be different.
Other top-level domains like ccTLDs have special renewal rules and are usually auto-renewed before they expire.
In addition, some TLDs don’t provide a grace period after expiration and are immediately deleted.
How Long After A Domain Expires Can You Buy It?
When a domain enters the grace and redemption grace periods, it is closed off to the public. The owner is usually still able to reclaim it, so you can’t purchase it.
However, when the domain enters the deletion period, the owner can no longer acquire it (not directly anyway), and most registrars would put it up for auction.
Anyone can participate in such domain auctions, including the previous owner. But because these are auctions, you can only snag the desired domain name if you’re the highest bidder.
If no bids are placed, and the domain isn’t sold during this period, the registry deletes the domain name, and it becomes available for anyone to purchase as a brand new domain. It is not an auction, so it’s strictly on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Why Is It Better To Hire An Expired Domain Expert Instead Of Finding One Yourself?
The chances of acquiring a domain from a registrar’s auction are very slim. Hence, the primary alternative for expired domains is to visit domain marketplaces. Most of the time, these are online platforms that allow individual owners to put up their domain names for sale in auctions.
So, now you know what happens when a domain expires and when you can get expired domains. However, before you start hunting for domain auctions, here are a few reasons why you should consider buying an expired domain from an expert instead:
1. Lack of Domain Information
There are generally no set rules on how much information domain owners should include for the domains they intend to sell. As a result, some sellers may put little or no information at all.
This means that you’ll have to do your due diligence to find the required data like the domain’s rating, authority, and so on.
2. Unjustified Prices
Some domain owners may price their domains ridiculously high because they assume it is premium and Brandable. The fact that the highest bid decides auctions doesn’t help the price either, as it could inflate the price.
Some of these domains may be worth the price, but many aren’t. So if you don’t conduct adequate background research, you could end up with a domain with an overblown price.
3. Google or AdSense Ban
Because domain auction sites do not require sellers to upload much information about themselves, you might buy a domain that is banned by Google or Google AdSense. If that’s the case, you won’t be ranking in the SERPs anytime soon.
If you still want the domain, you can try sending an email to Google to appeal for the ban to be lifted.
4. Spam Backlinks
Everyone knows the importance of backlinks—especially high-quality ones—to page rankings. So, getting a domain name with lots of backlinks is a huge plus. However, some domains are a horror story of fraudulent, spammy backlinks.
You can verify this information using Ahrefs. As a general rule, if a domain auction site has loads of anchor texts and backlinks in various languages, you probably want to avoid it.
With due diligence and utilizing the available online tools, you can probably verify most of this information and find key metrics yourself. But what if you went to a domain expert like Odys? What are the benefits?
How to Determine When a Domain Name Will Expire
Domain names can be renewed perpetually, but often, domain names expire.
Whether you’re looking to snag a domain name without approaching the owner about buying it from them, or you just want to find out when a domain name could be up for grabs, you could wait for it to expire. But when do domains expire?
Follow these steps to find out:
1. Start a WHOIS Lookup
A WHOIS lookup can be done on many websites, but the easiest place to look up a domain name is at whois.net. You can begin the process by entering the URL in your browser.
2. Fill in the Domain of Interest
Once you’ve started the process, the next thing is to type in the domain of interest in the “Type here for whois, domain…” input box and click the “search” icon on the right side of the box.
3. Skim the Displayed Information
At the beginning of the displayed record is some timeline information about the domain, like its “Creation Date” and supposed expiration date, “Registry Expiry Date.” ‘Supposed’ because the domain will only expire on that date if it’s not renewed.
So that means the domain name will not expire if renewed before the expiration date. In fact, many registrars allow a 30-day “grace period,” which means that the owner will still maintain domain ownership if they renew it within 30 days of the expiration date.
Odys Brandable Aged Domains With SEO Value
Odys prides itself on acquiring only high-quality domains that meet certain criteria. Their in-house experts scour domain auctions to pick out the best for purchase. With Odys domains, you get:
1. No auctions
Say you find a domain you like, but the owner is currently using it. You may decide to wait and see if they fail to renew it. But there’s no guarantee it will happen.
The owner eventually fails to renew domain ownership, and the registrar places the domain on auction during the deletion period. Even then, your chances of getting the domain are slim.
Most expired domains are snatched up pretty quickly, and it doesn’t help that the highest bidder gets the price.
Odys domains are sold strictly on a first-come, first-serve basis. In other words, once you pay the amount, you get the domain. You don’t need to engage in a bidding war.
2. Vetted Domains
As already mentioned, domain auction sites don’t require sellers to post important information about their domains, so you have to do a lot of digging.
At Odys, we handle the tedious background work to ensure you have a seamless experience. We check the domains’ history and key metrics like Ahrefs DR, Moz’s DA, and Majestic’s TF.
We also provide information on market insights, niche potential, monetization angles.
3. Easy Transition and Dedicated Support
Domain transfer can take anywhere from a few hours to even weeks for many reasons. There could be a lot of back and forth between the buyer and the seller, which might prove exhausting.
At Odys, we try to ensure that you get ownership of your expired domain in a short time. We work round the clock to ensure the domain transfer is processed within 24 hours of receiving your information.
4. Peace of Mind
Our in-house experts thoroughly check Odys domains, so you don’t have to worry about things like spam backlinks or Google and AdSense bans.
You can also rest assured that you’re getting value for money and not overpaying for a domain name. You don’t have to take our word for it.
Domain prices are broken down right on the domain pages, so you can see how we value our domains using key stats like domain age, the number of referring domains, high-quality backlinks, and so on.
5. Brandable Domains With SEO Value and Traffic
If you want expired domain names solely for their SEO value and traffic, we’ve got you covered.
Odys hosts various domain names created years ago, boasting an impressive number of referring domains and authority backlinks, which are great for SEO.
But that’s not all.
Some Odys’ domain names are acquired specifically for their high traffic value. This is great for increasing your chances of driving sales if you intend to use the name to create a business site. You can even link it to your primary money-making site to harness all that traffic.
Our domains have SEO value and high traffic, which give you a leg up over the competition.
Conclusion
You can spend hundreds if not thousands of dollars buying dozens of domains, and it may still not make a difference. It is essential to buy domains that will move the needle for you because otherwise, they will only be a waste of money. We sell domains that will move the proverbial needle in more ways than one!
So, what are you waiting for? The Odys platform is on an invite-only basis. Request access immediately to browse our domain gallery for the best domain name for your next business idea.
