[The_Equivocator]

Alright, here's the scoop. There's a domain name I have been eyeing that has been registered for three years. The page is incredibly unfinished and has not been updated in two, so I don't think that the owners will re-register it when it expires in a month.

The question is, how do I go about registering the name for myself? I'd like to do it ASAP after it expires to make sure that I get it. I have also never registered a domain name, before, so I really don't know how to go about doing this.

Let's say that the expiration date given by "whois" for this domain name is: 01-mar-2003. What should I do? Am I able to just register it for myself on the first of March? Do I have to do anything special since this is the expiration date? Does anyone have any recommendations for a group I should go through to register this name? Any advice would be great. Thanks.

[redJag]

Depending on who they registered with there may be a grace period, but I doubt it. Just check when it expires and if it's still in use keep checking back. I register my domain through gkg.net, it costs me $9.99/year. Your registrar really isn't that big of a deal, its the host you want to consider the most. We can cover that later, I'm sure a lot of people here have a lot of input on the topic.

[galarneau]

Yes! More info on this would be great. I have a couple domain names that I've wanted as well that are coming up for renewal. What would be cool is a service that will (for a fee) keep checking on the status and the minute it is free, register it for you.... kinda like those automated bidding bots on eBay

[gskinner]

Unfortunately, due to corporate ineptitude, domain names can take as long as a year (no kidding) to become available after their registration expires.

If you are really serious about getting the domain, I would use SnapNames' backorder service. Do a search on Netsol.com's front page for the domain, and then choose "Backorder Now" from the results page.

It will cost extra money, but I believe you will get the domain as soon as it is available.

I've been through it myself, for my own domain names (gskinner.com and grantskinner.com) after they were hijacked by my former host. It took 9 months for grantskinner.com to become available after my registration expired.

Cheers,
Grant Skinner.

[Corys]

I was in the same situation as you..

luckily after 60 days the registrar released it and I was able to pick it up..

but it really seems like there isn't any type of standard for how long it will take a domain to be open after it's expired

[jasonyates]

I second the idea of back/pre-ordering the name. I have seen a couple registrars that give this option for names that are approaching expiration.