Confirm Your Registrar Account

Before the transfer begins, make sure you have an active account with a domain registrar that accepts incoming transfers. Popular options include:

• Namecheap — Budget-friendly, straightforward transfer process
• GoDaddy — Widely used, extensive support resources
• Cloudflare Registrar — At-cost pricing, no markup
• Google Domains / Squarespace — Clean interface, solid DNS management
• Porkbun — Competitive pricing, modern dashboard

Receive Your Auth Codes

After purchase, we will:

• Unlock both domains at the current registrar
• Disable domain privacy/WHOIS protection temporarily
• Send you the EPP authorization codes (also called transfer codes or auth codes) for each domain

You'll receive these via the email address provided during your inquiry.

Initiate the Transfer

At your registrar, look for "Transfer a Domain" or "Transfer In". Enter each domain name and paste the corresponding auth code when prompted.

Most registrars require you to pay for one year of renewal at transfer time.

Approve the Transfer

You (and sometimes we) will receive a confirmation email from the registrar. Approve the transfer as soon as possible to speed things up. If not explicitly approved, most transfers auto-complete after 5 days.

Wait for Propagation

Domain transfers typically complete within 5–7 business days. Once complete, the domains will appear in your registrar dashboard. DNS propagation (pointing the domains to your hosting) can take an additional 24–48 hours.

Configure DNS & Deploy

Once the domains are in your account:

• Point the A record or CNAME to your hosting provider
• Upload and deploy the source code to your Node.js hosting environment
• Set up SSL/TLS certificates (most hosts offer free Let's Encrypt certs)
• Re-enable WHOIS privacy if desired

You're Live!

Your new Rogue Reefs site is online. From here you can customize the design, swap content, configure your email service, and make it your own.