My Last Name Domain

[sammyman]

Someone is selling my last name domain, and it is a .net. My last name is fairly common and is 5 letters. The .com is obviously long taken. I am thinking having a .net may help me in the future if I setup a business in my name, as I am a commercial real estate professional. The person is asking around $7k. Estibot gives a value of $4.3k. What can I expect a domain like this to sell for? And what would be a fair price?

 

[bmugford]

It is hard to know without the actual name. If it is something like Smith / Jones / Brown it could be a fair asking price. It depends what "fairly common" means.

How many Google results are there for the name in quotes?

Brad

 

[sammyman]

The name is in the top 100 last names (just barely), and there are About 42,600,000 google results for the name in quotes.

 

[bmugford]

Does it have a secondary use such as Brown / Green (colors), Scott (first name), Richardson (city) or is the only real meaning as a last name?

Brad

 

[sammyman]

It is the name of some smaller european cities, various towns, parks, volcanos, rivers, etc. However, it has no other meaning other than a name.

 

[bmugford]

Are there over 150,000 people with the name on this list?

Most Common Surnames [Last Names] in the United States (top 1000)

Brad

 

[sammyman]

Yes, there are over 200k.

 

[bmugford]

Sammy, I sent you a PM to see if I can help you out.

Brad

 

[nameboi]

If you are end user, a quality .net you can build brand around is well worth up to 5% of what you can realistically buy .com for. For a RE broker having SANDERS.net or POWELL.net on business cards should be be a no-brainer for $5K or so.

 

[StonePillar]

This thread got me thinking about a personal name LLLLL domain name I have (Kayle dot com). The name I have may not be as common as your name, and my domain is a .com. But it's a similar situation. So, check it out in my post in the appraisal forum here on NP.

 

[cache]

why do you want your name for your business? People who know you in person already have your contact info. The domain is for people who do not know you, thus the domain should include "real estate" keyword rather than your name.

 

[DU]

I'd go with a professional brandable name. Real Estate doesn't want Wooble or Fluble; however, a name featuring real estate would work (even if longer). It depends on how you plan on incorporating.

My real question is - why not wait until you're ready to go into business and then decide? You could lose the name but then, life goes on and you're forced to be creative which is not necessarily a bad thing.

Here's a simple exercise... Write down some alternatives:

Haye*sCommercialProperty.com
Haye*sCommercialRealty.com

If these sound 4K less value than Haye*s.net then you can make your decision.

Haye*s.net would work but I prefer both the two I have listed (if that is how you refer to these terms in your business.)

Best option ? Register the some .COMs defensively now ($8 a year) and then add the .net. It will retain a lot of its value being a fairly valuable domain anyway.

 

[sammyman]

I think most of the larger real estate websites have just the name of the business, not keywords such as "real estate". Some examples are CB Richard Ellis, Colliers Global Home Page, Grubb & Ellis Company :: Home, Cornish & Carey Commercial ONCOR International.

Edit: The domains were edited here so you can't see the actual url.

 

[DU]

I think most of the larger real estate websites have just the name of the business, not keywords such as "real estate". Some examples are CB Richard Ellis, Colliers Global Home Page, Grubb & Ellis Company :: Home, Cornish & Carey Commercial ONCOR International.

Then you answered your question, no?

I think as a business investment its a no brainer. $5K is less than one commission right? It's memorable and brandable as your name.

I would STILL register .com's in the same business genre.

On thinking I do prefer the Haye*s.net - it's so simple and straightforward (I don't know this is the name, but I'm just needed an example and it fit)

---------- Post added at 02:01 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:59 AM ----------

One more... I would call on the phone the owner of the .com unless it's an extremely professional looking site first. You never know. It may be some guy who doesn't know the value of it.... doesn't really use it to its potential.

Just express an interest.

 

[SEOjmci]

I dont see it's a good idea to have .net for good looking/ decent business, go for a .COM if you're a commercial real estate professional then you should understand this matter.

Are you looking for domain for real estate business?

 

[BidetInternational]

If you think you will make an online business site in the future and think you can get good results from buying the domain, you should go for it. If the name is extremely common it might be really hard to rank high for it. It might be very competitive.

 

[ssamriga]

if it is possible I would go for firstnamelastname.com rather than lastname.net

 

[ToryC103]

if it is possible I would go for firstnamelastname.com rather than lastname.net

I agree 100%

 

[DU]

I agree 100%

I think firstname last name sounds cheesy - like a blog.

The more I think I don't particularly like the .net either.

Just call your company LastNameAndCo.com or something that sounds professional. If you have a partner then all the better. All the names you posted have this format.

Find a partner and call yourself XandY.com
OR
Just offer $10,000 for the .com

I would also consider the tv.com .TV because outside of word of mouth - video is the best way to sell property I'm told by my RE friend.