Transferring Domain to 3rd party developer

[Vis1/0N]

My main business area is not web development or admin so there is a lot I have not bothered to learn about.

Our company website is a basic wordpress site that I host on Gridhost. Now my boss wants it developed further and the web developer wants the domain name so that he can host the site and do the SEO etc.

So the webdev wants to host the domain. This means we need to recreate the email addresses on his server. Does this mean I will be yielding all control to him? I don't want any third party to have access to the email accounts and give them rights to change the passwords etc.

Our main email addresses are with Iburst and when we got our own domain we kept using iburst as the email provider. However I have added a few accounts on the new domain - but these are mostly inactive as we have not given these out to customers. Still I don't want to give anyone else the full rights.

How can I keep the email service (or admin) separate from the hosting?

 

[shauntir]

I feel there is some confusion here. You can host a website on a web server. Then you get dns hosting which points your domain to a server. Most hosts will have their own name servers.

Your web developer just wants you to transfer everything to his server so that he can charge you the hosting fees. You do not need to do this. If he is really "good" and needs to do seo, he can do it without transferring the website to his server.

Also, you do not need to transfer your email to his server. You could but why would you want to do that? Unless it's a really good deal? Email hosting can remain with your current host.

If you really must move your website to your developer's server, ask your host provider to show you where you can update your domain's name server. It is usually in your client control panel. If you want, your developer could also assist with this.

So the process is as follows:
-You give developer your website code.
-Developer sets up website on his server.
-Developer gives you his nameserver address.
-You update your domain's name server address to point to his name server.
-Give time for propogation (+-24 hours) and you will now have your website hosted on his server.
-Email may need to be updated. An mx record would have to be added to point to the developer's email server. (not sure here so others could help)

 

[Solitude]

Hmmm I don't really see a good reason why the developer wants to host the site. Like shauntir said, there looks to be some confusion here. Or perhaps, the one reason I can think of why the developer wants the site hosted on their server is for easy access I suppose.

In my opinion the site can stay right where it is now and you can just give an ftp username and password to the developer to upload and make changes to the site.

 

[Venomous]

Seems like your dev wants to own your site.

Keep the site in your company name.
Make sure listed contacts for the site are employees or owners of the company only.

Else if he has the site and you(company) wants to move it he can sell or close the site, with not much you can do about it....

 

[AfricaWebSolutions]

If you are happy with your current hosting and setup then don't allow it to be moved.
There is no reason I can think why you should have to move to another provider just for the developer to do work for you on your website.
Gridhost servers allow most platforms that developers use for websites so even that is no reason for your developer to need to move your hosting.

 

[Vis1/0N]

So the process is as follows:
-You give developer your website code.
-Developer sets up website on his server.
-Developer gives you his nameserver address.
-You update your domain's name server address to point to his name server.
-Give time for propogation (+-24 hours) and you will now have your website hosted on his server.
-Email may need to be updated. An mx record would have to be added to point to the developer's email server. (not sure here so others could help)

Sorry for no updates on this. Thanks for the responses. There is some investigation needed on my part, but the boss is pushing this.

Cpanel has an Advanced DNS Zone Editor - "subdomain point to another IP address and/or domain, add a new CNAME record."

...
webmail.mydomain.co.za. 14400 IN A 108.168.xxx.xx
www.mydomain.co.za]. 14400 IN CNAME mydomain.co.za
ftp.mydomain.co.za. 14400 IN A 108.168.xxx.xx
cpanel.mydomain.co.za. 14400 IN A 108.168.xxx.xx
...

Does this indicate that I can somehow have www.mydomain.co.za subdomain hosted on another host, and keep *.mydomain.co.za?

 

[guest2013-1]

1) Keep control of your own domain
2) Keep control of your own DNS server
3) point *.domain.com and www.domain.com to his server using your DNS (refuse to pay hosting fees)
3.5) Insist on a copy of your entire site and backup of any databases sent every week if he were to host it on his own server
4) Keep your mail where it is now (they're separate DNS records)
5) SEO doesn't require him to host it on his own server unless he is using blackhat tools, then you don't want to be associated with him anyway

 

[shauntir]

Sorry for no updates on this. Thanks for the responses. There is some investigation needed on my part, but the boss is pushing this.

Cpanel has an Advanced DNS Zone Editor - "subdomain point to another IP address and/or domain, add a new CNAME record."


Does this indicate that I can somehow have www.mydomain.co.za subdomain hosted on another host, and keep *.mydomain.co.za?

Yes, you can. This is common.

Do what AcidRaZor also suggests though. I feel your boss should look for a different developer/company as this guy seems dodge...

Get someone that will do your website upgrade without lying to you about needing to host the site on his server to do "SEO".

 

[Vis1/0N]

I am the bigger dodge as I only learn stuff when I need to know it. The Web dev is the boyfriend of the bosses daughter, he has recently completed his studies and he is hosting 4 other websites on ipage. Wordpress only... I don't think it is great idea to give control to someone emotionally involved.

 

[House]

I am the bigger dodge as I only learn stuff when I need to know it. The Web dev is the boyfriend of the bosses daughter, he has recently completed his studies and he is hosting 4 other websites on ipage. Wordpress only... I don't think it is great idea to give control to someone emotionally involved.

Yes, what will happen if the boss's daughter no longer wants to screw him? Besides, his experience seems to be quite limited....

 

[shauntir]

I am the bigger dodge as I only learn stuff when I need to know it. The Web dev is the boyfriend of the bosses daughter, he has recently completed his studies and he is hosting 4 other websites on ipage. Wordpress only... I don't think it is great idea to give control to someone emotionally involved.

You're F'd. Lol, sorry dude. Hope you come right since its probably going to end up messy.