Unexpected solicitation to buy a domain name

Looking for a standard process on selling a domain name.

[webdezchris]

Hi Everyone,

I'm a longtime lurker, infrequent poster. I have searched the site for information on this but didn't find anything exactly like this.

I have a lame personal site posted at a domain name of the format www.[MyFirstName][MyLastName].com. I have a very unusual last name and have never run across anyone with the same name combination as me.

I received a solicitation over email to sell the domain name for a not inconsequential amount of money. I am surprised that a "first offer" on such an uncompetitive domain name would be so high. I certainly would like to sell it for this price.

He gave me his name and phone number to call him. I Googled his phone number and, sure enough, Google lists him and a female at the address he gave me. It also shows as a contact number for a reputable service organization in the same town.

I am, however, leery of losing my domain name to a scam artist. Does anyone know of a standard practice for selling domain names? I'm looking for some way that the buyer can be assured of getting the domain name, while I am assured of receiving payment.

Any suggestions?

[SashaCorinne]

I would give the guy a call. The fact that he gave you his phone number leaves me with the impression that he is somewhat serious. I'm sure you will be able to tell soon into the conversation if he is truly interested in purchasing the domain name. I wouldn't concern yourself with why he wants it but definitely ensure safe payment through an escrow service. Make the buyer pay the fee or pay a percentage of what the sale is and they will fascilitate the transaction. Good luck!

[webdezchris]

Well, the whole thing went remarkably smoothly. He is building a network of junky adsense sites and apparently liked my site's PageRank. Based on our verbal discussion, he put the money into my PayPal account, and then I transferred the domain to him.

I expect to see my domain name go available again within the next few years, at which point I'll snap it back up.

Thanks for your help.

[fischermx]

The world is becoming smaller and smaller each day.
I also have registered my firstname+lastname domain name.
For no reasons, I have some type-ins a day. Actually I went and parked it at sedo and it is doing some couple bucks a month :)