So, you have bought a website. And now you want to take full ownership and transfer the website to yourself on another host. A small thing, you think? Not really. But if you read our little guide here on Dumbino and follow every step, the process will go smoothly. So you can soon start doing what you wanted to buy the website for - earning money!
Transfer Domain Ownership / Transfer Domain Name

The first thing to do is to transfer the domain ownership / transfer the domain name. This will give you control over the unique domain name of your website. This part of the process is pretty easy - because someone else does most of the work for you! All you have to do is contact the registrars of your old and new domain and tell them that you want to transfer domain ownership from someone else to you. There will be a lot of things going on in the background, like administrative contacts and registries. But all you will know about it is when the old domain of your website is released to the new domain and the steps to transfer the domain name are completed.

From now on you have to play the game yourself!
Retrieving the files

Now you need to retrieve all the files associated with the website - and we do mean ALL of them. You don't want your website to crash on the first day of the big power-up because the old owner forgot to send you an important file! You need applications, databases, passwords, manuals, configuration files .... everything. The best way to make sure you get them all is to prepare a list of questions for the old owner. Here are some things you should consider:

- What operating system, what database size, what bandwidth?
- Do you need a unique IP address?
- Do order processing and payment systems come with the site?
- What about affiliates, merchants and drop shippers? Will they be transferred to you?
- What software licenses do you need and how do you secure the site?

Basically, if you think of a question, write it down!

When you are sure that you have identified all the important data, files, applications, etc., the next step is to put them on the server of the new host company. They will give you a place to collect them and then upload them for you. For this to happen successfully, it is extremely important that the website is fully functional in its "old" location.
Take control

You are almost ready to take full control of the site and transfer it to you, as the new owner. Think of this phase in three separate parts:

1. administrative level changes - create new email addresses, transfer control of software licenses, and make arrangements with vendors and partners if necessary.

2. Technical reviews and changes - there will be a lot of technical things that should be reviewed and possibly changed.

Examples:

- Changing file and folder permissions,

- Editing database access files,

- Installing scripts, and verifying that the destination address for all comments and feedback forms is correct. And many more.

It might be an idea good to use Google Webmaster Tools to check every little detail.

3. finances - Last, and probably most important, you need to make sure you can get paid! Check that paying subscribers, members and advertisers have your new contact address. And remember to update Paypal and any other automated payment software with the new address. The same goes for payments you make. One sure way to lose your affiliates, for example, is if they stop getting their money from you!

The last piece of the puzzle is to change the DNS (Domain Name System) settings in the domain registrar to point to the new host company so that customers can actually find you!

That's all you need to do to transfer the website to you as the new owner.

Conclusion
This may seem like a tedious process to you (and it really is), but if you want your website to be successfully transferred to another host, it is more than worth the effort and time.