Domain Buying Guide: Complete Buyer's Checklist

Domain Buying Guide: Complete Buyer's Checklist

Buying domains requires careful evaluation and verification. This comprehensive guide provides a complete checklist to ensure you make informed purchasing decisions and avoid costly mistakes.

Whether you're buying your first domain or building a portfolio, following a systematic approach helps you identify quality domains that provide real SEO value. At Brutal Domains, we've developed this checklist based on our 15+ years of experience in domain evaluation and vetting.

Pre-Purchase Checklist

Before purchasing any domain, complete these checks:

1. Check Domain Metrics

• Domain Rating (DR) : Verify DR is 20+ for meaningful SEO value
• Referring Domains (RD) : Check quantity and quality of referring domains
• URL Rating: Check page-level authority if buying for specific pages
• Traffic data: Review historical traffic if available

2. Check for Penalties

• Google Search Console: Check for manual action notifications
• Search rankings: Verify domain ranks for brand name
• Index status: Check if pages are indexed (site:domain.com)
• Penalty tools: Use specialized penalty detection tools

3. Review Backlink Profile

• Backlink profile quality: Analyze actual backlink sources
• Authority links : Identify links from high-DR domains
• Toxic links: Check for spam or low-quality backlinks
• Link diversity: Ensure diverse referring domains

4. Check Domain History

• Wayback Machine: Review historical content and usage
• Ownership history: Check WHOIS records for ownership changes
• Content quality: Verify previous content wasn't spam
• Red flags: Look for spam, adult content, or penalty history

5. Check Spam Score

• Moz Spam Score: Verify spam score is below 15%
• Toxic backlinks: Review for toxic link indicators
• Spam patterns: Look for unnatural link acquisition patterns

Red Flags to Avoid

Watch out for these warning signs:

• Penalties: Any evidence of Google penalties or manual actions
• High spam score: Spam scores above 30% indicate high risk
• Toxic backlinks: Majority of backlinks from spam or penalized domains
• Suspicious history: Previous use for spam, adult content, or illegal activities
• Frequent ownership changes: Domain changing hands frequently (domain flipping)
• Low metrics: DR below 10 with no quality backlinks
• No history: Domain with no Wayback Machine snapshots (may be new or problematic)

Quality Indicators to Look For

Positive signs in domain evaluation:

• High Domain Rating : DR 20+ for meaningful SEO value
• Quality referring domains : Diverse, authoritative referring domains
• Authority links : Links from high-DR, trusted domains
• Clean history: No penalties, spam, or negative associations
• Relevant niche: Domain in a niche relevant to your project
• Stable ownership: Long-term ownership by legitimate entities

Purchase Process

When ready to purchase:

1. Verify seller: Ensure you're buying from a reputable marketplace
2. Review terms: Understand transfer process and guarantees
3. Check pricing: Compare with similar domains in the market
4. Secure payment: Use escrow or secure payment methods
5. Initiate transfer: Follow proper domain transfer process

Post-Purchase Checklist

After purchasing a domain:

1. Verify transfer: Confirm domain is in your account
2. Check DNS: Verify DNS settings are correct
3. Monitor metrics: Track Domain Rating and Referring Domains remain stable
4. Review backlinks: Verify backlinks are still active
5. Plan strategy: Decide on 301 redirect, content development, or PBN use
6. Monitor performance: Track SEO impact over time

Buying from Marketplaces

When buying from marketplaces like Brutal Domains:

• Vetted domains: All domains are pre-vetted for quality
• Verified metrics: Domain Rating and Referring Domains are verified
• Clean history: Domains checked for penalties and spam
• Transfer support: Full assistance with domain transfer
• Quality guarantee: Assurance of domain quality and legitimacy