Transfer a Domain Name- This article by Web Host Ranking will explain to you how to transfer a domain name. Pay very close attention because transferring a domain name can be tricky. There are specific steps to take when you transfer a domain name.
Even those who have come to feel fairly confident in registering a domain name through a web host may not be aware of the exact steps to transfer a domain name. There are actually two different processes that can be referred to as “transferring a domain name”—one is taking the proper steps to transfer a domain name to a new holder; the other is to transfer a domain name to a new registrar. This article explains how to do both kinds of domain name transfer.
There are a variety of reasons to transfer a domain name. Before initiating a domain name transfer, it is important to make sure that the WHOIS information is up-to-date and that the registration will not run out while the transfer is underway.
There is one important restriction on domain name registrar transfers that you need to know about. After a domain name registration is transferred once, it cannot be transferred to a new registrar for 60 days, except in the case that is transferred back to the previous registrar, which is allowed. This means you shouldn’t transfer a domain that you’re planning to sell soon and you should do your homework before making a transfer in the first place. You may also wish to check with both registrars to find out about any possible costs that may be associated with a domain name transfer.
Start the transfer process by making sure the WHOIS data is all correct, and update it, if not. Make sure there is no lock on the registration, and request the authentication code from the current registrar. Next, contact the new registrar, provide the authentication code, and designate the services you want, such as WHOIS privacy, DNS management, email forwarding, or URL forwarding.
The new registrar has to contact to current registrar. When this has taken place, the current registrar will check with you as a precaution, making sure that the request for transfer actually comes from you. Different registrars may handle the confirmation slightly differently: be prepared for a process that assures the registrar that transfer is really what you want.
The transfer itself may take from an average of five days to as long as two weeks. Some registrars have a reputation for dragging their feet on transfers. Because of this, you should be sure not to transfer a domain name when expiration is coming up. When it is done, the new registrar will contact you to ensure that the domain name server settings and other information is accurate.
Transferring a domain name to another person almost always involves a registrar transfer as well. It is often the case that a domain name transfer happens between people who do not know each other. For this reason, among others, it may be advantageous to use an escrow account to ensure a complete transaction and to handle communication between you and the prospective new registrant. It is also possible to employ a domain broker. In either case, once you and your buyer come to an agreement, the funds are transferred to the escrow service. When this is done, you contact your current registrar to initiate the domain transfer. When the transfer is complete, the buyer confirms this, and the escrow service verifies the fact, paying you upon verification.