Guides· 2026-09-29 · 5 min read
How a domain sale through escrow actually works
The sequence both sides should expect: offer, agreement, escrow, transfer, release. No countdown clocks, no wire to a personal account.
Agree before anyone pays
Write down the price, the currency, who pays the escrow fee, and the transfer method. One email thread is enough for a single domain. You do not need a 40-page asset purchase agreement unless lawyers on either side want one.
State what is not included. For this name, that list is everything except the registration: no trademark, no code, no customers.
Escrow is the neutral drawer
The buyer pays Escrow.com or a similar service, not the seller’s personal account. Escrow tells the seller that funds are secured. The seller starts the transfer. The buyer confirms the name is in an account they control. Escrow pays the seller.
If either side goes quiet, the money is still in the drawer. That is the entire point.
Transfer mechanics
A push keeps the name at the same registrar and can be the same day. An auth-code transfer moves it to the buyer’s registrar. The buyer should say which they want in the first reply.
After the transfer, update the lock, DNSSEC, and contact email immediately. The sales page you are reading does not stay part of the deal.
General information, not legal, tax, or brokerage advice.