Redirects are normal and often necessary, especially during redesigns, URL cleanups, HTTPS migrations, and content consolidation. A proper 301 redirect helps send users and search engines from an old URL to the best new URL. Problems happen when redirects are missing, point to irrelevant pages, create long chains, loop back on themselves, or replace useful pages with weaker destinations. Redirects should be planned carefully during migrations because they protect equity, preserve user experience, and help search engines understand the new site structure.
Example
If an old service URL earned backlinks, redirecting it to the closest matching new service page is usually better than sending it to the homepage or letting it become a 404.