Considering a Broker

There are situations where it makes sense to let someone else do the work.

Lightweight brokerage services

Services like DomainAgents (domainagents.com) offer a semi-automated approach. You enter the domain name you want, pay a small fee only if they successfully locate the owner and present your offer, and they handle the research and outreach. If a deal is reached, they take a commission — typically around 10%.

The research they do is nothing groundbreaking — it’s a basic version of what I’ve described in this chapter. And they don’t negotiate for you; they just relay messages between you and the seller. You also won’t get the seller’s contact details.

I use services like these for domains that would be nice to have, but aren’t worth my time to research and pursue myself. If it works out, great. If not, I haven’t invested much.

Professional brokers

For high-value domain names — think five or six figures — a professional broker can be worth the investment. They have experience with complex negotiations, established relationships in the industry, and their commission can pay for itself if they negotiate a better price than you could on your own.

There’s also a signaling effect. When a seller receives an inquiry from a professional broker, they know the buyer is serious and that the transaction will be handled professionally. This can make sellers more willing to engage, especially for valuable domains where they might otherwise ignore emails from strangers.

On the flip side, working with a broker for a small or medium-value domain signals that you have money — which is exactly what you don’t want the seller to think. For domains under $10,000 or so, I’d recommend negotiating directly. With the techniques in this chapter, you’ll be well equipped to do so.

If you’re money-rich and time-poor, or if there’s one specific high-value domain you really want and you don’t have alternatives, then a professional broker is worth considering. But honestly, if that describes your situation, you’re probably not reading this book.