Hello,
The questions you asked are very good questions.
My opinion, Estibot or any other tools to evaluate a domain are silly tools as a domainer.
But, if you are inclined to want to use such tools, then in my opinion I would use namebio to find out what related domain names such as yours have sold for.
That will help to give you a ballpark figure as to what price your related domain is trending in relation to past sales history on " Auction Websites".
This is what we as domainers refer to as "floor prices".
But just remember;
"A domain is worth what the next person is willing to pay for it"
Meaning that there is no price set in stone, those are just measuring tools.
Keep in mind that in this business the shorter the better.
The shorter the domain the more money you can ask.
Also dot com is king!!
So, by that being said let's get started.
To answer your question on evaluation of a domain you need to first figure out some answers. Where and or to whom am I selling that domain name.
I'll start out by to "whom" you are selling:
In the domaining world we all aim to sell our domain names to an "end-user" (a person who is wanting to develop that domain into his or her business) or for example (an established company is using a .net but you as a domainer own the .com). Now that company wants to buy your .com.
Many things can happen here.
1. You hit "pay dirt" (cha-$hing).
2. Try to figure out who that person or company is.
3. Don't be greedy.
4. Give them a price that is a little higher than what you are comfortable in selling. Meaning, give yourself wiggle room for negotiations. If they payout your asking price, great you made more than what you were expecting.
This is where I say those evaluation websites are silly. If estibot says that your domain name is worth $200 but now you just sold your domain for $4,000, was that not silly?
End-users will most likely pay more because they see a domain as their company name.
We as domainers see it as an investment, so we won't pay more than the "floor prices"
To answers the question as to "where to sell":
There are many places you can sell your domain.
Before you make that decision, understand where you are selling.
Understand their rules.
Expect to make less money.
Not saying you will not make more or sell for your asking price. Just understand that is not the same as approaching end-users.
So, here are a few places you can sell domains.
Flippa.com
eBay.com
NameJet.com
GoDaddy Auctions
Ramped.com
NamePros.com
To answer your question on backordering:
Don't be naive!! Meaning that don't think you will be getting glamorous domains such as about.com, toys.com, sex.com ect.. you will not get them.
You will be waisting your money.
Besides backordering only works if a person does not pay their annual renewal fees. With such domain names don't you think the fees will be paid on domains that they themselves paid millions of dollars for.
But if it's not one of those glamorous domain names, just understand that odds are, many other people could of backed ordered that same domain.
Now you are John Doe, backorder number 3,766, So keep waiting.
You will have better odds by going to Las Vegas.
NameJet.com is free to sign up.
There you can see which domains are set for auction and set a starting bid for a domain you may have an interest in.
They also have a "Wish List".
It's like backordering but the name would have to filter through one of their parent registrar companies for them to add it to auction. So even then you will have to bid on the nice domains.
Kind Regards,
Jaime
