Risks Of Buying a Website + Domain?

[Martic]

Hey guys. I was wondering what the risks are in buying a website with the domain?

I can see why if I bought Business.com website from somebody, but they kept the domain would be a pretty bad deal, but what are the good and bad deals of website buying?

For example (not trying to advertise):
GasTips.com

This individual is selling A GasTips website with the domain. He is selling it for near $5k and his income is almost $400 per month with $0 on the expenses per month.

What's the catch, except the fact that I would have to update the website once in a while.
Does anyone have any good articles for website buying / tips?
How does someone actually make money from a website?
Do people really click on ads?

Thanks guys! Please ask more questions here if anyone has some, and don't be shy with the comments. :blink:

I have NO relation the the link above.

 

[mrjohn]

The first obvious catch is: what proof is there of such revenue?

 

[Martic]

Are there ways of checking how many viewers a day actually come?

 

[CanSpace]

I would ask for access to their google analytics and google adwords accounts to verify their stats...

 

[Alex P]

The risks?
You lose your money to put it simply

 

[DubDubDubDot]

I would definitely verify traffic and income for a site like this. The site is pure crap and I don't see any advertising anywhere except the Google search box.

 

[malcarada]

Even if you verify everything and it seems to confirm what the seller says, how do you know Google will keep sending you traffic?

And more important, why would someone sell a site that makes $400/month for $5k? That is like one year revenue and it even includes the domain name.

BTW: I just checked the "site", total garbage, it looks like a parked page.

 

[mrjohn]

Here's a more honest question to ask yourself:

What makes you stop and doubt this enough to ask all of us? There's a lot to be said for gut instinct. Something is telling you this isn't the greatest deal.

My thoughts are:

1. It's one thing to overpay for a domain (we're all gonna do it at some point). It's another thing to really overpay when your gut says don't.

2. If you're not sure, but still interested, have you given some thought to pressuring the price downward? Maybe you just flat-out tell him, the price doesn't quite excite you enough when taken against the risk.

3. Never be afraid to walk away. There are so many opportunities with domains that there's no reason to fret the one that got away.

 

[thetruman]

I would definitely verify traffic and income for a site like this. The site is pure crap and I don't see any advertising anywhere except the Google search box.

you can't say is pure crap as if you try to navigate you will see there is a blog (subdomain) with plenty of articles (and ads).
If traffic is high it might earn 400$ (also if the website is not visually appealing, but ads are well placed in my opinion..)
By the way is 11 years old, has a PR4 and nearly 50,000 links....(alexa of 2,239,729 quite low but for what it really means...)