| 1: Most important of all, don't panic when things go | | | | unlocked. Someone--you or your old registrar's |
| wrong. If ever there was a process designed to | | | | support staff--has to pull the virtual lever to change it |
| comply with Murphy's Law: "Anything that can go | | | | from locked to unlocked. If you depend on the |
| wrong, will go wrong!" it is the process of domain | | | | registrar's support staff be ready to check that they |
| name transfer. You have to depend on two different | | | | have done as asked; ask them to direct you to the |
| registrars, at least one of which doesn't want to lose | | | | screen that shows it has been done. They have no |
| your existing business; several emails, at least one of | | | | incentive to unlock it as they will be losing your |
| which seems always to be misplaced, misdirected or | | | | business. So check it! |
| completely lost; and two or three possible codes, at | | | | 4: Transfer your domain name before it expires. This |
| least one of which you will either forget to copy or | | | | should be a no-brainerbut it happens all the time. It is |
| copy incorrectly. When things are at their worst, turn | | | | no big deal if you get to it while it's still in your old |
| to your new registrar. Remember, he has an | | | | registrars "grace period" but after that you'll be lucky |
| incentive to see this through. If he doesn't, the loss is | | | | to ever see it again without paying a three-figure |
| going to be his, not yours. | | | | premium. |
| 2: Cancel your privacy agreement. If you don't, you | | | | 5: Provide your old and new registrar with up to date |
| or your administrative contact won't receive the | | | | contact information. Always! The importance of this |
| codes you will need to complete the transfer at the | | | | can't be overstated! If they can't find you, you won't |
| new registrar. You can purchase a new agreement at | | | | get the information you need and it might even cost |
| your new registrar's. | | | | you your domain name. |
| 3: Unlock your domain. It can't be transferred until it is | | | | |