Transfer a domain help- plz

Hi-

This is my first time doing this; I need to transfer an existing domain name to my hosting service. I've been in contact with the previous Webmaster who has control of the domain. Please correct me where I'm wrong...

I need the technical contact or admin to sign off on the domain through the registrar- does he just need to send them to do this? Or how does that work?

At what point can I go ahead and point the URL to the new Domain Name Servers? Can I do this before the domain is signed off on?

After the domain has been cleared by the registrar- and the URL is pointing towards the new host's DNS's- is there anything left?

Any insight would be much appreciated!
Thanks-

This is the normal process, from my experiences anyway:

You request that the domain be transferred to the new registrar service, like register.com, godaddy.com, whomever. It is best for you to create an account and make this request yourself.

An email is sent to the currently listed contact, who then must reply to that email and allow the domain to be transferred.

Once s/he's allowed the domain to be transferred, it is under your control and you can then make DNS modifications etc. through your account with the registrar service.

This assumes that the domain name that you are trying to transfer is registered under your name or organization, as it should be. But sometimes webmasters / hosting companies / whomever, doesn't do this right. You can use Network Solution's Whois service to check the registrant's name for your domain.

Ok- I am not the registered owner of the domain...I've looked at whois and have been in contact with the admin or contact person who is in control...So do I still start with the same process as you've mentioned?

Well, if you're not the owner then it's not yours to transfer.

Since you've been in contact with the person who seems to make the decisions, you can still try and transfer it anyway, and see if s/he allows the transfer to go through. However, you'd be better off to have that person change the domain into your name (make you the owner) before you make the request to transfer.

Depending on your registrar, you can find out how they want this handled by running through some of their FAQ pages.

If I understand correctly you are not actually transferring the domain name, you simply want the domain to be hosted by your hosting service. If that is the case, simply have the owner/admin of the domain log into their account at their registrar and change the Nameserver info. Usually ns1.yourname.com.

Ignore if I missunderstood your problem

Mantas

Yeah, that's right mantas- let me counter with a few ridiculous questions

I'm about to have the registrar point the domain towards my hosts DNS's (and to change the technical contact info to my name)...

I can go ahead and set-up the account at my host right? I just have to wait for the transfer to take place. My web host will let me know?

How is the InterNIC involved?

Thanks-

Yes you can go ahead and set up your site. The company should provide you with an IP address that will be the location of your domain. You have to wait a while (up to 72 hours) for the DNS change to be completed. Before then you can use your ip to view your site in a browser and upload the site via ftp. I have never heard of a hosting company that notifies you concerning the DNS propagation, simply because of the architecture of DNS.
I suggest you just try every now and then to see.

Mantas