Domains, Hosts And Transfers

For a little while now there has been a voice in the back of my head saying I should do something about my website hosting situation. I’m not dissatisfied with my current hosting, I just pay a lot of money for a lot of things I don’t use or need. Many years ago I went ahead and purchased my current hosting “deal”, but times have changed, I don’t need all the space and unlimitedness (yes making up words as I type along) that I pay for now, and to be honest, I can use the money I could save on the hosting on various other things, like travelling the world.

It’s not that I can’t afford it, but I think it’s a bit useless to spend money if it’s not needed. But it’s not only a money issue, I’ve been hosting my site with a company located on the other side of the world. Which can make communication a bit tricky sometimes. The few times I needed help with anything they’ve been pretty responsive, but doing some research online made me realise that I’ve just been very lucky.

Word on the internet-street has it that my current host is lacking quiet a bit in the service department. Like I said before, I don’t have any issues with them at the moment, but a lot of people are. And when things like that come up, I become a bit weary. I don’t want to hit myself over the head later on thinking I should have moved when I had the chance, and apparently moving away is not that easy anyway..

So, I’m looking around and considering my options. Do I stay or do I go? And if I go, where do I go to. Obviously, if I go I want to move it all to a hosting company closer to home. Preferably one that has good reviews, an active help community if I need it and good value for money.
I’d be lying if I said I don’t already have a few options in my head to see if they are anything for me. Yet at the same time I’m scared. Scared to lose it all, and even more scared that the online rumours are true and moving away and closing my account is not easy. I guess losing everything might not be such a big deal, I recently started over with this domain anyway (although I’d hate to lose all my travel posts, they’re memories of some sort) and backing up my WordPress should prevent that. The thing I’m extremely nervous about is cancelling my hosting though, just thinking about considering it gives me sweaty palms.

I’m sure if I decide to move, all will be well, but what I read online only makes me more nervous, from easy cancellations to debt collectors and everything in-between seems to happen. But I shouldn’t get ahead of myself and just orient myself on what I want and need first.

Luckily I recently transferred my domains to a separate registrar, so they should be fine. Don’t they say to never keep your eggs in one basket? Even if I transfer my hosting to another company I’ll keep my domains separate from my hosts, just in case.

Have you ever changed hosts? How did it go, did they let you go easily or was it a hassle?