Wanted: Domain Appraisal pipework.co.uk

micky1 · Nov 8, 2012

Hi, i own and have run for years a pipework contracting business. i have the domain name of pipework.co.uk. My business has changed and evolved during the recession and i now predominently project manage for larger contractors on a contract basis. This will continue for the next few years so i feel inclinded to sell or lease the domain.

it has won me quite a few prestigious contracts over the years, is page one on google with a decent site organically, has the potential to be sold on or leased to some very large organisations.

Would someone give me some advice on value....and on the possibilities of marketing this on my behalf. i expect middling to high £xx,xxx

many thanks

ratboy · Nov 8, 2012

I run a site in a similar position, so can only speak from experience of how I am running my business.

The site and domain aren't worth much without evidence of business secured off the back of it. And in any case, the best value can only be realised by selling it to a contractor/end user I guess.

What I'd do is put together a proper business case for the domain name, and evidence of contracts IT has won (not you). Then you can present the evidence to the contractors. Present it to them as if they were employing a salesman - i.e. how much would would the site as a business bring in? Then you have a great case for negotiation.

Ps. can't see it in Google page 1?

Systreg · Nov 8, 2012

page one on google with a decent site organically

I'm struggling to see what value your website has, it has 2 pages, the home page and a contact page, the images either aren't working or have not been uploaded, and it has testimonials on the home page that are still showing default text:

Testimonials

"This is sample testimonial from a sample source." -- Sample Client, Location

"This is another sample testimonial from another sample source." -- Sample Client, Location

I also can't see the site ranking anywhere at all naturally, the only way I can see it is if I specifically search for:

Code:

site:pipework.co.uk

Even then it still doesn't show the home page, only the contact page, sitemap.xml and robots.txt

ratboy · Nov 8, 2012

Systreg - you never worked for Sample Client? Mate they are massive up here

micky1 · Nov 8, 2012

ratboy, thanks for your input. the old site raised alot of enquires but they need to e turned into quotes etc and thats difficult to guage although my finest achievement was winning a large contract from Ascot racecourse for £825k..this can be proven easily off the back of the domain name and old website.

I guess im after working with an agent, i can give leads, contractors that have expressed and interest in the domain and evidence to back up the claims i have made. Unfortunately i am on site till christmas then of to Kenya for 6 months on a project. Selling it isn't my main goal, just testing the water and asking the right people for there views and opinions.

As for google etc the site thats there is very poor, i have had another done but not put it up as yet. with a decent site it soon goes back to page 1 on google. i have found my work comes from engineering managers / M&E contractors that sit and type they want a pipeork contractor.
Having pipework.co.uk has worked well in the past for me. I have let the site slide if im honest. i can earn the same if not more consulting and being PM, hence the option to let it go.

thankd for your input so far, keep it coming

ratboy · Nov 8, 2012

If that's the case pull your finger out, get a proper site up, faster server too - and lease the leads to someone while you are in Kenya.

Do it now, nice little earner. Do nowt, earn nowt.

micky1 · Nov 8, 2012

im on it ratboy. just spoke to the webman and the new site will be up tomorrow.

i'll get it established on google again as it doesn't seem to take long to rise up.

How do i go about appointing an agent to market this to contractors etc

I won't be needing it for at least 2 years then it could sell.

namealot · Nov 8, 2012

Large organization etc they’ll go brand and as most would already have names etc and you can buy a lot of add power for mid xx,xxx can’t see them being interested
Any sale depends greatly what you have to substantiate your claims under due diligence same with leasing if you have nothing then I’d be surprised if it even got above 1k if there typing as you say then “pipe work contractor/s” as hyphenated plural and singular com and co.uk are available free and you’d get a lot of adds for the price difference mix in the uk situation…Wouldn’t make sense to buy/ lease yours?... If it list and you get enquires for tendering then sell them on at a either a fixed rate or a % of successful contracts … As for brokering the better prefer names that are easy to sell realiticly priced …. I’d say the co.uk market will be a flood with a lot better trying to get rid prior to the new ,uk

micky1 · Nov 12, 2012

namealot, thanks for your input. I have to disagree about the .co.uk selling up and everyone going .uk...the general public...ie me, doen't even know the .uk thing is coming and to be honest theres really only two that count .com and .co.uk

as for big business buying a brand then yes i suppose thats true but you could build a bloody good brand around this domain if your were a pipework supplier, manufacturer, retailer etc. In the boom years..i was offered 30k for it.its always been worth more than that to me due to the fact it's earned me £xxx,xxx plus.

i have had the new site stuck up, got some pics to add and a feqw testomonials etc. need a land line aswell but im away.

it'll sit there. if anyof you can market it then i will ofcourse be happy to remunerate you hansomly. if not thanks for your time

noonoo1 · Nov 12, 2012

micky1 said:
In the boom years..i was offered 30k for it.its always been worth more than that to me due to the fact it's earned me £xxx,xxx plus.

Thats nice to see that you have benefited from this name and to great profits as well.

I'm a Gas registered heating engineer by day so I do have an interest in the performance of this domain.

Well done to you.

micky1 · Nov 12, 2012

noonoo1 said:
Thats nice to see that you have benefited from this name and to great profits as well.

I'm a Gas registered heating engineer by day so I do have an interest in the performance of this domain.

Well done to you.

Hey noonoo...good game to be in! Especially when it gets cold :wink:

Done me proud TBH. great when you get an enquiry or hand out your business card and they see pipework.co.uk. I've moved on and off the tools so for me it won't working like it use to.

i personally think you could get a big brand like BSS, G-F etc to buy this with the right speak. I don't know how to present it but its worth a fortune in the right hands

noonoo1 · Nov 12, 2012

micky1 said:
i personally think you could get a big brand like BSS, G-F etc to buy this with the right speak. I don't know how to present it but its worth a fortune in the right hands

They would have deep pockets for a name like that. I've been to and enjoyed enough corporate events to see how much wonga they used to throw around.

Uponor, speed fit, etc would definately be the right people to pitch to.

I used to know the the UK director for Uponor but that was back in the day when I had 24 employees and a shite load of stress, 2000 - 2006 lost contact with them all. God damn I miss the corporate trips, flown out to brussels and spoilt rotten!

micky1 · Nov 12, 2012

well anyone upto the challenge?

namealot · Nov 13, 2012

micky1 said:
namealot, thanks for your input. I have to disagree about the .co.uk selling up and everyone going .uk...the general public...ie me, doen't even know the .uk thing is coming and to be honest theres really only two that count .com and .co.uk

as for big business buying a brand then yes i suppose thats true but you could build a bloody good brand around this domain if your were a pipework supplier, manufacturer, retailer etc. In the boom years..i was offered 30k for it.its always been worth more than that to me due to the fact it's earned me £xxx,xxx plus.

i have had the new site stuck up, got some pics to add and a feqw testomonials etc. need a land line aswell but im away.

it'll sit there. if anyof you can market it then i will ofcourse be happy to remunerate you hansomly. if not thanks for your time

Good luck btw here are a few prices of associated names for sale
PipeWorker.com $1788.00
PipeWork.net $4388.00
PipeWorkContractor.com $1788.00

You might want to consider registering pipe-work / pipe-works .co.uk at free
if you’re trying to archive xx.xxx Personally a company offering 30k getting turned down and then not bothering to reg the – that’s free... Is a little strange I know what I'd have done or advised a client to do... esp with pipeworksupplier, pipeworkmanufacturer, pipeworkretailer, in com and co.uk all free reg em all and corner the market ?

Sound · Nov 13, 2012

Sean said:
Anyone know why yet again a new member has red reputation!?

I think this maybe the reason
http://www.acorndomains.co.uk/uk-domain-name-consultations/108491-uk-announced-130.html#post423831

accelerator · Nov 13, 2012

micky1 said:
Would someone give me some advice on value....and on the possibilities of marketing this on my behalf. i expect middling to high £xx,xxx

I think it's a reasonable name but I think you are being extremely optimistic. This is not something like broadband where there is big advertising at consumers, it's quite niche and therefore ad budgets much lower and companies will use their own brands. Happy for you to prove me wrong with a big sale, but I can't see that happening easily.

Rgds