I often run into clients who have no clue where their domain is registered, which delays site rebuild projects by 1-2 weeks while they figure it out. I can usually pinpoint the registrar using WHOIS, but they often say that their previous developer set everything up, and when I reach out to that developer, they claim the domain belongs to the client. What strategies do you use in these situations? Do you just wait it out, or do you have tools or processes that help with this? I'm considering creating a solution to streamline this process, but I'd love to hear your methods first!
7 Answers
When I deal with clients in this situation, I start by checking the WHOIS information and guide them through the process. After we've tried reaching out to the old developer and failed, my steps are: 1) try a password reset, 2) review the registrar's account recovery procedures, and if that doesn't work, 3) I suggest they might need to choose a new domain. Fortunately, I’ve rarely had to reach that last step. Once we have access, I usually help them move all their domains to a single registrar or manage it myself to prevent future lockouts.
As soon as I take on a new project, I make it a point to ensure the client accesses their domain before I finish the site. I tell them what they need to do; sometimes it takes a week because they have to call their previous provider and navigate through two-factor authentication. If they don’t know who their domain provider is, I recommend checking the name servers. You can use a DNS query tool to find that info.
You might want to check out Builtwith.com; it can provide insights into where the domain is hosted.
Honestly, this is a huge part of freelance web work. I run WHOIS right away and send the client a screenshot showing the registrar. I also advise them to look through their old emails for messages from their domain provider. If all else fails, I build the site on a temporary domain and tell them the site will go live only when they sort their domain issue. This shifts the responsibility back to them and motivates them to act.
Just curious, what do you need access to the domain for?
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