With the current proliferation of cheap domain names, many people wish that they could find a better deal when it’s time to renew their domain. If you purchased your domain from a company and have been locked into a high renewal price, you can transfer your domain to a new registrar to save money.
There are many things that you will need to be aware of before you transfer your domain.
1. Is your domain name registrar a reseller? If they are, it is much easier to transfer your domain, as long as you stick with the same company that your reseller is working for. This means that if your reseller is working with ICANN, you would need to find a cheaper registrar who is a reseller for ICANN as well.
If the company is different, for example, if one reseller is using ICANN and the other is using Network Solutions, you will need to go through a complicated transfer process. It is much easier to stick with the same root company when making a transfer. Luckily, the prices for both are quite similar.
2. Is your current contact information on your domain accurate? You will need to approve the transfer of your domain using the email address that is associated with your domain. If this email account is no longer active, you will not be able to perform the transfer.
It is very important to make sure that you can log-in to change this information before you attempt a transfer. You should always keep your domain information as current as possible.
3. Have you prepared for some down time? While your domain name is being transferred, your site may be down for a short period. This can be fatal to some sites, so it is important to schedule this transfer during a slow period or to make sure that your customers are aware that your site may not be available.
Normally, this process is seamless, especially if you are sticking with the same root company. However, it is still a good idea to be prepared. A transfer can take as much as 72 hours to complete.
4. Are your nameservers current? When you transfer your domain you will need to be able to log-in to your new registrar to make sure that your nameserver data is accurate. Usually, this information is transferred over, but you will need to check anyway, just in case.
While it can be tempting to go hopping from registrar to registrar in search of the best deal, it is usually a good idea to find a price you are happy with and then stick with them. Unless your registrar is not offering you the features you need to maintain your domain name, you should not need to change once you are happy with the price.
If you do transfer your domain, most registrars will add an extra year to your domain. However, if your domain is about to expire, you may not be able to transfer it. Some companies will not transfer a domain that will expire within 15 days. Make sure that you check with your intended registrar before beginning the transfer process.
Original from http://www.webhostinginformation.net
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