SnapCHECK.com is a site unlike any other. They provide 100% free lists that you can browse and backorder your expiring domains through. The expiry date lets you know when the expiring domain will turn into an expired domain.
The process is so simple, to own the domain you simply back-order it. "Backorders" are where you tell a certain company, "Look, this domain is expiring on June 21st, 2004... I really want this domain should the owner not renew". That company then uses it's resources to repeatedly pound the registry attempting to register that domain for you.
Each registrar is given a certain amount of connections they can use towards Expired Domains. Therefore one registrar will not always win... It may be very sucessful most of the time, however not always.
My favorite and most successful backordering companies are Pool and Snapnames. Pool and Snapnames for example have a bunch of registrars that they work with. Therefore if you are using Pool and Snapnames both, you will have a great chance at getting the domain... One day pool will get your domains, the next day snapnames will get them. Each company has their "hot streaks". Covering both bases increases your chances ten-fold.
The expired domains and soon to expire domains market is hot because there is so much money to be made. To see your potential you have to browse the lists at Soon to expire domains - SnapCHECK.com
Question: how much money can I make with expired domains
Truthfully the sky is the limit. Imagine for a moment that a domain was a local restaurant. That restaurant was packed from open until close. It was the popular place to eat.
Now imagine that "City Hall" required every restaurant to pay a yearly operating fee.
What if that restaurant did not pay the fee required? Well, "City Hall" would then disable that restaurant from operating and warn the restaurant that they must pay the yearly operating fee. After the grace period for payment elapsed, "City Hall" would then release the location to the first person that asked if the location was available.
Now... Let's say that the restaurant failed to pay. You repeatedly called into "City Hall" asking if that location was available to be registered. Imagine now that "City Hall" returned and said that the location is now yours. (All you get is the "location", you do not own the rights to the restaurant). Now that you have that location, you have established traffic knocking down your door daily and it will continue for sometime... Perhaps for years.
It is now your location... What you do with all those people is up to you.
Just know that the old restaurant will probably offer you money to buy back the domain or they may even send legal problems your way. For example, you would not register a trademarked restaurant.
That is how expiring/soon-to-expire domains work.
Registrars must be paid a yearly operating fee. Should the domain owner not pay up, for whatever reason... That registrar is then allowed to turn the domain off (domain will not load in Internet Explorer anymore). Usually that gets the domain owner's attention.
If a certain time elapsed, and the owner failed to pay ... the registrar is then forced to make that domain available. They are not allowed to keep that domain for themselves.
Now it's a matter of "who asks first" the moment they make that domain available.
That's where these backorder companies come in. They will repeatedly ask the registry to register the domain on your behalf. Should they be the first, you get the domain.
If you do get the domain, you now have all those people coming to your domain daily. It's then up to you.
Not all expiring domains will be good
Maybe the previous owner had it right, the domain was lost cause. Well, lets say you bought this domain... now it's your lost cause.
Realize that not every domain will be a "winner".
How do you know which expired domains are good?
SnapCHECK! For all your free expired/soon-to-expire domains. Trust me, they are the best and it will not cost you a cent.
Link to SnapCHECK!
If you find SnapCHECK to be the best, link to them! I know they would appreciate it.
Disclaimer: This information is just that, information. I cannot be held responsible for making you millions. Nor can I be held responsible should you make mistakes.