# Website redesign: rebuild an old site and protect what already ranks

Slow, dated, hard to edit, or built years ago and never touched since? We rebuild it without losing your domain, your email or the pages Google already sends people to.

**Short answer:** If your new site fits Business Lite or Business Plus, a redesign costs the same: $499 + GST or $899 + GST. Bigger rebuilds are quoted first. We keep your domain and email, point old page addresses at new ones, and recheck Google after launch. You see your new homepage before you pay the balance.

## Signs your site needs a redesign, not a patch

Tick off how many of these sound familiar. Three or more usually means a rebuild costs less than fixing.

- It looks squashed or tiny on a phone
- Pages take a long time to load
- You can't change your own hours or prices without help
- The contact form has stopped sending, or fills with spam
- Your prices, services or photos are years out of date
- Nobody has rung or emailed through it for months
- The platform keeps asking you to pay for upgrades
- You don't know who has the logins any more

## What we keep, fix and rebuild

A redesign isn't a fresh start from nothing. Some of what you have is worth keeping.

- **Keep**: Your domain name. Your email. Content that still reads well. Page addresses that Google already ranks. Your reviews and your Google Business Profile.
- **Fix**: Phone layout. Load speed. A contact form that works, with spam protection. Page titles and descriptions. Broken links and missing pages.
- **Rebuild**: The design. The page structure, so each service gets a clear home. The technical SEO underneath: headings, schema, sitemap and robots.txt.

## How we protect your Google rankings during a move

The biggest fear with a redesign is dropping off Google. Most of that risk comes from skipped steps. Here's what we do, in plain words.

1. **List what you have**: We note every page on your current site and which ones Google sends visitors to.
2. **Keep addresses where we can**: If a page address works, it stays the same on the new site.
3. **Redirect the rest**: Any address that changes gets a 301 redirect. That tells Google, and old bookmarks, where the page moved.
4. **Carry over what ranks**: Titles and headings that already bring in visitors are kept or improved, never thrown away.
5. **Check after launch**: We test the redirects and check Google can read the new site. Business Plus includes Google Search Console setup for this.
6. **Update your Google profile**: Your Business Profile points to the new site, with details that match.

### Moving from Wix, Squarespace or WordPress

Your words and photos can come across from any platform. Some things can't, because they belong to the old platform.

| From | Usually moves across | Usually stays behind |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Wix | Text, photos, page structure | Wix apps, built-in bookings, Wix forms |
| Squarespace | Text, photos, page structure | Squarespace commerce and scheduling tools |
| WordPress | Text, photos, page structure | Plugins, page-builder layouts, old themes |
| Any platform | Your domain, if it is in your name | Monthly builder fees, once you leave |

_Not sure whose name your domain is in? See [who owns my website and domain?](https://websmarthq.com/guides/who-owns-my-website-and-domain/) Thinking of staying on Wix? Our [Wix cost guide](https://websmarthq.com/guides/wix-cost-nz/) has the numbers._

> **Can AI redesign my site?** AI tools can draft a new layout quickly. The slow, risky parts are still there. Content has to move. Redirects need setting up. Email has to keep working, and Google has to read the new site. Those are the parts that protect your rankings.

> "Nikhil has been a game-changer for my business. Not only is he quick to respond to a request but his dedication to resolution is beyond expectations. He's helped with social media, website transfer and a whole heap of settings and edits that has saved me hours of frustration and expense. He's a true asset!"
> The Platter Collective, Google review

## Website redesign FAQ

### How much does a website redesign cost?

If your new site fits one of our packages, it costs the same as a new build. That's $499 + GST for one page, or $899 + GST for five. Bigger sites, online shops or custom features are a Business Pro build, quoted before anything starts. For context, Auckland agencies typically quote about $1,800 (small agencies) to $4,000 (large agencies) + GST for a small site, from [our survey](https://websmarthq.com/guides/nz-website-prices/) of 25+ published NZ prices (Oct 2026).

### Will I lose my Google rankings if I redesign?

Not if the move is done carefully. We keep page addresses that work, set up 301 redirects for any that change, and carry over titles that already bring in visitors. After launch we check Google can read the new site. Nobody can promise Google won't wobble for a few weeks. But skipped redirects are the usual cause of lost rankings, and we don't skip them.

### Can I keep my domain, email and content?

Yes. Your domain stays yours, and we only change the settings the website needs. Your email settings are left alone, so mail keeps arriving. Good content comes across, and we tidy what's out of date. If your domain is registered in someone else's name, we'll help you get it moved into yours first. That way you're never stuck again.

### Can AI redesign my existing website?

AI can suggest a layout or draft a page. It can't move your domain safely, set up redirects, keep your email running, test your contact form or update your Google Business Profile. Those steps decide whether a redesign helps or hurts. Use AI for ideas if you like. We'll handle the parts that need checking.

### My site is on Wix, Squarespace or WordPress. Can you move it?

Yes. Your text, photos and page structure can come across from any of them. What doesn't move is anything tied to the old platform: Wix apps, Squarespace scheduling, WordPress plugins and page-builder layouts. We'll list what moves and what doesn't before you say yes. Once you've moved, you stop paying the old builder's monthly fee.

### How do I know it is time to redesign rather than fix?

Look for these signs. The site is awkward on a phone. It's slow. You can't update it yourself. It has stopped bringing in enquiries. Or it sits on an old platform that keeps asking for money. One sign is usually fixable. Three or more, and a rebuild often costs less. Our [free website check](https://websmarthq.com/free-website-check/) will tell you which.

## Not sure if it needs a redesign?

Send us your web address. We'll look at your site and Google profile and tell you plainly: fix it, or rebuild it.

[Start with a quick chat](https://websmarthq.com/contact/)

## Read next

- [Website design](https://websmarthq.com/web-design/): What every new site includes, and how the build works.
- [Website prices](https://websmarthq.com/pricing/): Business Lite and Business Plus, side by side.
- [SEO services](https://websmarthq.com/seo/): Once the new site is live, the work that helps Google find it.

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Source: https://websmarthq.com/website-redesign/
Web Smart HQ · Titirangi, Auckland 0604, New Zealand · hello@websmarthq.com · Business Lite $499 + GST, Business Plus $899 + GST