What to Check in DNS Records Before Buying a Domain Name

When you buy a domain name, you are not just buying a name. You’re buying the digital address where your website will live. 

Behind that address sits something called DNS records: the data that connects your domain to the internet.

As a beginner, you never check these records. 

You’ll assume the domain works fine, only to find later that emails bounce, the website doesn’t load, or someone else still controls parts of it.

This guide explains, step by step, what to check in DNS records before buying a domain, what each record means, and how tools like Truehost DNS Checker can help you verify everything before you pay.

What DNS Records Are

DNS (Domain Name System) is what makes the internet human-friendly. Without DNS, you’d have to type long IP addresses like 192.168.1.1 instead of example.com.

Each domain has its own DNS zone, a small database stored on DNS servers. 

Inside that zone are DNS records, tiny instructions that tell browsers and mail systems what to do when someone visits your site or sends you an email.

When you buy a domain from a domain registrar such as Truehost, GoDaddy, or Namecheap, those DNS records are created and stored under your control.

Check them before purchase to see if the domain is safe, active, and ready to use. If a domain has broken or missing records, it could mean downtime, lost emails, or even ownership disputes.

How DNS Records Work in Simple Terms

Imagine your domain name as a street address.

The DNS records are like road signs that guide users and emails to the right place.

For example:

• The A record links your domain name to a specific IPv4 address, the real home of your website.
• The AAAA record does the same for newer IPv6 addresses.
• The MX record tells email systems where to deliver messages.
• The TXT record adds additional information for security checks, such as SPF, DKIM, or DMARC.
• The CNAME record points one name to another (for example, shop.yourdomain.com might point to yourstore.com).
• The NS record lists the nameservers responsible for your DNS.
• The SOA record shows who manages the domain, when it was last updated, and its refresh rate (the TTL value).

All these together form your domain’s DNS zone file. When someone types your domain into a browser, DNS translates it into the correct IP address so your site loads.

What to Look for in DNS Records Before You Buy

Before you buy a domain name, take a few minutes to perform a DNS record check. 

This simple step can help you avoid bad purchases and protect your future website.

1) Check That Key DNS Records Exist

Use a tool like MXToolbox, dig, or Truehost DNS Checker to see the domain’s A, MX, TXT, and NS records.

If any are missing, it means the domain might not yet have a proper setup. That’s not always bad, but you’ll know what work lies ahead.

For instance, if there’s no MX record, the domain can’t receive email. If there’s no A record, the domain doesn’t lead anywhere yet.

A complete set of records suggests the domain was once used, which might help or hurt you depending on what’s stored there.

2) Review the WHOIS Record

Every registered domain has a WHOIS record stored in the ICANN WHOIS database.

It lists the registrar’s name, registration date, expiry date, and registrant contact.

Before buying a domain, confirm that:

• The domain is not locked to a previous registrar.
• The owner’s contact info matches a legitimate source.
• The domain is active, not expired or in redemption.

This helps you avoid domains still tied to another person or company.

3) Inspect the Nameservers

Nameservers are special computers that store and deliver your DNS records to the rest of the internet.

You should always check which nameservers a domain is using before buying.

If the nameservers point to a dead host, a free parking service, or a suspicious provider, it could cause long DNS propagation delays and unreliable service.

Domains that use well-known providers like Truehost, Cloudflare, or Google Domains are safer and faster.

Look for at least two nameservers—primary and secondary—to ensure reliability.

4) Look at the SOA Record and TTL Values

The Start of Authority(SOA) record contains technical details about how your DNS zone behaves.

It lists the admin contact, serial number, and TTL (Time to Live), which controls how often updates spread across the internet.

For beginners, a good TTL value (between 300 and 3600 seconds) balances performance and flexibility.

If the TTL is too long, updates such as email routing changes might take days to appear.

If the SOA record is missing or outdated, it may mean the domain has not been maintained recently.

5) Test for DNSSEC Security

Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC)protects your domain from tampering by signing records digitally.

Without it, hackers could redirect your traffic to fake websites or steal data.

Before buying a domain, check if DNSSEC is enabled. Most good registrars, including Truehost, support DNSSEC by default. If it’s not active, you can enable it after purchase, but knowing it’s available helps you plan ahead.

6) Review Email Authentication Records

If you plan to send emails from your domain, you need to check for SPF, DKIM, and DMARC in the TXT records.

These prove your messages are genuine and not spam.

For example, a healthy SPF entry might look like this:

v=spf1 include:_spf.google.com ~all

If these entries are missing or incorrect, it means the previous owner didn’t secure their email. You’ll need to set this up right after buying.

How DNS Settings Affect Security and SEO

DNS is not just a technical detail. It affects how search engines and visitors view your domain.

1.1) Security Risks of Weak DNS

A domain with missing or outdated DNS data can be hijacked, spoofed, or used for phishing.

Without DNSSEC, SPF, or DMARC, anyone can fake emails from your domain.

If your DNS records point to a bad IP address or an insecure host, your visitors might see warnings in their browsers.

1.2) Impact on SEO and Performance

Search engines check how fast your domain resolves.

If your DNS lookups take too long or your TTL values are too high, it can slightly hurt your search visibility.

Domains with clean, secure DNS data also build user trust, leading to higher click-through rates and engagement.

1.3) Connection Reliability

Some registrars use faster DNS servers than others.

When comparing providers like Truehost, GoDaddy, or Cloudflare, pay attention to their DNS latency and global coverage.

The faster your DNS resolves, the quicker your site loads for visitors around the world.

How to Check DNS Records in Practice

You can check DNS information in a few simple ways:

Online tools:

Visit a DNS lookup site like MXToolbox or Truehost DNS Checker.

Enter the domain name, and you’ll see all its DNS records, A, MX, CNAME, TXT, NS, and more.

Command-line tools:

If you prefer the terminal, you can use the dig or nslookup commands.

For example:

dig example.com

This will show the IP address, TTL, and other record details.

WHOIS Lookup:

You can also run a WHOIS search to see when the domain was registered, by whom, and when it will expire.

This helps confirm that the domain is legitimate and not under dispute.

Common DNS Problems You Might Find

During your DNS check, you may encounter issues that indicate risk. Here’s what those mean in plain English.

Sometimes the nameserver points to a provider that no longer exists. That’s called a stale NS record. If you buy that domain, you’ll have to fix this immediately by updating the nameserver to your own host.

You might also see blacklisted MX servers. That means the domain’s email servers were reported as spam. Buying such a domain could cause deliverability problems for your future emails.

If there are no SPF, DKIM, or DMARC records, it’s not dangerous, but it means you’ll need to add them for email protection.

Some old domains have inactive DNS zones, meaning their zone files have been deleted. In that case, the site will not load until you create new records.

Lastly, check that the registrar lock is active. If it’s disabled, anyone could transfer the domain without permission.

Each of these red flags helps you decide whether the domain is worth buying and what setup tasks await you after purchase.

How to Fix DNS Issues After Buying

If you do decide to buy a domain that needs work, fixing DNS records is simple.

After your domain registration, log in to your control panel or Truehost dashboard. There, you can add or edit DNS records manually.

If the site isn’t loading, start by adding an A record that points to your web host’s IP address.

If you’re setting up emails, add an MX record with your email provider’s details and a TXT record for SPF.

You can also enable DNSSEC with a single toggle for better protection.

After editing, it’s good to run another DNS propagation check to confirm the changes have reached global DNS servers.

Propagation usually takes between 1 and 48 hours, depending on your TTL value. During that time, your new settings spread across the root zone of the internet.

DNS Checklist for Beginners Before Buying a Domain

Here’s a simple summary you can follow every time you’re about to buy a domain:

1. Use a WHOIS lookup to verify the current owner and check the registrar name.
2. Run a DNS record check using a tool like Truehost DNS Checker.
3. Confirm that A, MX, TXT, and NS records exist and point to valid servers.
4. Make sure the TTL values are between 300 and 3600 seconds.
5. Check that DNSSEC is available or already enabled.
6. Ensure you have proper SPF, DKIM, and DMARC records if you plan to send emails.
7. Confirm that reliable providers host the domain’s nameservers.
8. Ensure the registrar lock is active for security.

If all these boxes are checked, the domain is safe to buy and ready to use.

Buying a Domain? Let Truehost Help You Check First

When you buy a domain from Truehost, you don’t have to handle all this alone.

Truehost makes it easy to check DNS records, verify WHOIS details, and automatically set up DNSSEC, SPF, and DMARC.

You also get:

• Free DNS health checks before and after purchase.
• Instant propagation testing through the dashboard.
• Email and SMS renewal alerts to keep your domain from expiring.
• Secure auto-renewal and registrar lock protection.

Whether you’re starting a blog, business site, or store, Truehost helps you buy and protect your domain name the right way, from the very first step.

What to Check in DNS Records FAQs