Case Study: How I Bought RoomAI.com for $2,000

In 2022, I launched an AI-powered interior design app on interior.computer. The concept proved popular, but it also attracted a wave of competitors — many with stronger brands and better domain names. As the AI space heated up, I realized I needed a name that was simple, memorable, and clearly communicated what the product did.

I started looking at options and noticed that roomai.com was registered but not in use. It was short, descriptive, and one of the best available names for an AI interior design product. I decided to go after it.

What followed was a month-long process of research, outreach, and negotiation that ultimately landed me the domain for $2,000 — a fraction of what similar AI-related domains were selling for. Here’s how I did it.

Research

Before you send a single email, do your homework. The more you know about the domain and its owner, the better positioned you’ll be to make a deal.

Finding the owner

The first place to check is the WHOIS record for the domain. Unfortunately, most registrars now default to hiding the owner’s personal information behind a privacy service. So you’ll often see something like “Redacted for Privacy” instead of a name and email address.