The domain buyer’s checklist.

Before you make an offer

• Check it is not simply availableSearch it at any registrar first. People overpay for names that were never registered. Register a domain
• Look up the registration recordRegistrar, creation and expiry dates, and whether the contact is redacted. ICANN Lookup
• See how it was used beforeOld snapshots show spam, adult or abandoned history you would inherit. Wayback Machine
• Search for trademark conflictsA name that matches someone's registered mark can be taken from you. USPTO Trademark Search
• Run it through the phone testSay it once to someone and see if they can type it. Domain name checker

Before you pay

• Agree how money and the name moveUse a neutral escrow service on any meaningful purchase, or a seller you can verify. How escrow works
• Ask when it was last registered or transferredRegistrars can refuse a transfer within 60 days of registration or a prior transfer. ICANN Transfer Policy
• Ask the seller not to edit the contact detailsChanging the registrant can trigger a 60-day transfer lock at many registrars.
• Get the deal in writingName, price, who pays fees, and what is included (site, content, email) — in one email both sides confirm.

During and after the transfer

• Unlock + authorization codeThe seller unlocks the name and sends the auth code privately; you start the transfer at your registrar.
• Recreate DNS and email records firstIf the name had email or a site, copy the records before the switch. Email & DNS guide
• Turn on lock, auto-renew and 2-factorMost lost domains are expired or hijacked accounts, not legal disputes.
• Update your contact details and keep them currentRegistrars send renewal and verification notices to the registrant email.

This is general information, not legal advice. Transfer rules are set by ICANN and applied by each registrar; ICANN has been revising its Transfer Policy, so check the current version and your registrar’s help pages for exact timing.