I just got an offer - how to proceed?

I've placed my health related site on a website-broker site a couple of days ago and got an offer for a year revenue with google which is $4,500.00 after I asked for an initial price of $7,000.00
I haven't tried to sell it elsewhere since I'm emotionally very attached with this site.

I started this site as a hobby but have little time to work on it to get the full potential out of it.

I also do not use credit cards and paypal.
How shall I proceed?
The deal is not fixed yet.

Step by step procedure advice would be highly appreciated.

The party interested in my site likes it and I know that the domain name which is short is very appealing to visitors too.
As the interested party wrote today: "I think the site is great and our team could do alot with the domain".

Thanx
Arnie

 

Does the website broker offer escrow?

 

I don't know. I haven't applied to their sales service. It's a team of lawyers running the site.
They offer to place sites with or without their sales service, so everyone can place sites there after simple registration. They would go for a 30% cut if their service is used.

 

Your only two options given your first post are bank transfer or escrow service...Personally I would go with a trusted escrow service which I don't think will ask for anything close to 30%

 

Thanks for the advice yfs1, I thought about that too.
I think Bank transfer is suitable. If the buyer wants to use escrow service then its up to the buyer and on his bill.

Which are trusted escrow services?

 

I also thought after the buyer agrees to wire the sum to my bank account to proceed as follows.

1. The buyer agrees to wire the money

2. The buyer sends the money(which takes up to seven days before it's in the account) and informs the seller.

3. The seller put a message on the index page of the site in question within 24 hours after a note of money-wire is received.
This website is under procedure of being subject to (.....the buyers full reqired name and address) ... until the full amount received the site remains under (...sellers name and address) control. Also declaring if the money is not in account within, lets say 10 business days, the deal is void.

4. The seller has the amount received and starts tranferring the site within 24 hours to the buyer (which I guess takes about 3 business days for the change of the domain to take effect, changing and/or reporting to host, change the domain registration, taking off adsense scripts etc.) and in meanwhile adding another note that the site is now fully subject to ...the buyer name and address.

Deal completed!

 

You can't go wrong if you get the buyer to give you all the money upfront. I don't understand why you are posting messages on the website instead of just sending an email or fax? I wouldn't want something like that posted on an index page of an active site.

I'm sure this isn't the case here, but there is a scam going around where offers are being made on sites with a condition of an appraisal from a company they specify (which is part of the scam). The seller pays for the appraisal and then the buyer backs out.

 

I think you're right, this was just an idea that came to my mind

 

Why not just open Paypal account to transfer funds. Lots of protection. Not total but

 

I would use escrow as they have a system for it. They'll take the money from the buyer, make sure the seller has transferred and then release the money to the seller. Noone is vulnerable.

I would not advise using a Paypal account as they will close the account once the money is sent in there and ask you to confirm your identity with your drivers license. They do this because the account is new and there's alot of money in it.

 

Thanks everone for your answers, it helps me a lot to decide how to cntinue.

 

Do you need any advice with regards to actually transferring the site or is it strictly the financial part you are after?

 

It's not only the finacial part, any advice in actually transferring the site would be much appreciated, not just for me but for all who have no experience in this field.

Guess, I'm not alone

 

Well, here a few basic points which can easily be expanded upon

1.) The first thing is to deliver the actual site..The easiest way to do this is for the buyer to provide ftp payment...I would not start this until they have either paid or put the money in a trusted escrow service. Once it is ftp'd to them, have them test it and make sure it is fully functional...Typically they may have to tweak a few settings if its a dynamic site.

I usually ask for full access to their cPanel also so that I can upload any databases..That way I have full control to fix any problems as they happen. If they don't have cPanel, zip the databases and have them ask their host to add them.

2.) They have to initiate a request for the domain. Their host can do this although if its GoDaddy, you can change it on your side and they will receive an email with instructions on claiming it...I always keep my domains at GoDaddy only because once you are used to the process its pretty easy (Can take up to 5 days sometimes though)

3.) Once they have the domain, they need only point to their new nameservers.

I typically leave the site on my server for around 30 days just as a backup in case they accidentally delete something...Its not your responsibility to resupply it but it helps your reputation to support your sale 100% for 30 days.

It is actually quite simple but its getting started most people struggle with.

 

Great, and fortunately I have cpanel, that makes it lot easier to process the transfer.