Due diligence, explained
A practical checklist: confirm the seller controls the name through WHOIS or RDAP data and the registrar account; search trademark databases such as the USPTO's and WIPO's Global Brand Database for the term; review past use in the Wayback Machine for spam, adult or malware history; check blocklists and the backlink profile; look at the EPP status codes for holds, locks or a pending dispute; search WIPO's case records for past UDRP decisions on the name; and confirm the renewal price, especially for premium and non-.com names.
For expensive names, add escrow, a written agreement and confirmation that the transfer path works before money moves. AI tools can compile much of this quickly by summarizing archives and scanning databases, but they also invent trademarks, owners and sale prices with confidence, so verify every finding against the primary source. Skipping due diligence is how investors end up with a name they cannot use, cannot sell or have to defend in a dispute.
Example. Checking a name's archived pages, trademark records and status codes before bidding on it in an expired auction is due diligence.
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