A move around here comes with details most generic checklists skate right past. Between getting a Certificate of Insurance approved for a downtown Albany building, carrying a sofa down a steep, turning Stockade staircase, clearing the move-in rules at a Clifton Park or Saratoga HOA, and planning a salted path when there is snow on the ground, there is a lot to keep straight. The Hanley crew runs these moves out of our Schenectady office every week, so here is the realistic, week-by-week timeline our own team walks customers through, with the Capital Region details baked in.
4 to 6 Weeks Before Your Move
Lock Your Date and Get a Written Quote
The Capital Region books up fast from late spring into fall, and around the GE, GlobalFoundries, state-government, Union College, and RPI relocation rushes, so good crews fill early. Reach out at least six weeks ahead in the busy season. We send a flat written rate so there are no surprises on move day. Just give us your two ZIP codes and your date, and tell us if there is a downtown building, an HOA subdivision, or a long out-of-state lane so Joe can map the access.
Check Your Lease, HOA, or Building Rules Early
This is where Capital Region moves get specific. What you need to square away depends on where you are landing:
- Downtown Albany or Schenectady apartment or condo conversion: The building likely requires a Certificate of Insurance naming it as additional insured, plus a reserved elevator and a loading window booked in advance.
- Clifton Park, Malta, Ballston Spa, or Saratoga County subdivision: Most HOA communities have move-in rules, reserved hours, and a notice requirement before a moving truck can roll in.
- Stockade, GE Realty Plot, Center Square, or a Troy brick townhouse: Tight street parking, narrow turning staircases, and limited driveway access mean we plan the carry and truck staging ahead of time.
2 to 3 Weeks Before Your Move
Capital Region Utility Transfer Checklist
Upstate utilities are set largely by where you live, so most of this is about timing rather than shopping around. Here is how it breaks down across the region:
| Utility | Provider | Lead Time | How to Set Up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric & Gas | National Grid across the Capital Region | 3–5 days | National Grid website or phone |
| Water/Sewer | City or town utility (Schenectady, Albany, Troy) | 3–5 days | Through your city or town water office |
| Internet/TV | Spectrum or Verizon Fios by area | 7–10 days | Check coverage at the new address first |
| Trash/Recycling | City or town service (varies) | With your move-in date | Through your city or town solid-waste office |
| HOA dues | Your association | Before closing | Through the management company |
Sort Out Downtown and Winter Access
If you are landing in a downtown building or moving with snow on the ground, plan the access before move day. A downtown Albany or Schenectady building needs the elevator reserved and the loading window confirmed, and an HOA subdivision needs your move added to the schedule. Confirm where our truck can stage, get the dock or gate hours in writing, and in winter make sure the driveways and old stairs will be plowed and salted before we arrive.
Forward Your Mail
Submit a change of address through USPS at least 10 days before your move. The online form charges a small identity-verification fee, around $1.10, or you can do it free in person at any post office.
1 Week Before Your Move
Final Week Checklist
- Confirm your date, arrival window, and any special instructions with our crew
- Share elevator reservations, building codes, COIs, and parking details with us
- Pack a move-day essentials box (see below)
- Plan truck staging for a tight downtown loading dock, a narrow Stockade street, or an HOA entrance
- Give neighbors a heads-up if the truck will block a shared drive or a narrow lane
Capital Region Essentials Box
- Bagged ice melt and a small shovel kept by the door, so a fresh dusting on move morning never strands the crew
- A phone charger with a portable battery in case a storm knocks out power at either end
- Warm gloves, hats, and a spare pair of dry socks for everyone, since a winter move day runs cold and wet
- Old towels or a mat at each entry to catch slush, snowmelt, and road salt during the carry
- Important documents, medications, and valuables to keep with you, never on the truck
After You Move
Post-Move Administrative Tasks
| Task | Deadline | Where | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Update your NY driver’s license address | 10 days | NY DMV, dmv.ny.gov | State law gives you 10 days to report a new address |
| Update your vehicle registration | 10 days | NY DMV | New residents: register and title within 30 days |
| Register to vote | ~10 days before an election | elections.ny.gov | Update your address with the county board of elections |
| Update insurance policies | ASAP | Your provider | NY auto plus renters or homeowners |
| Update bank/financial addresses | ASAP | Online banking | Checks, statements, tax documents |
One upstate item people skip: if you buy a primary home, file for the STAR property-tax exemption with New York State so you lock in the school-tax break, and have the furnace and chimney checked before the first deep cold. An old Stockade or Pine Hills house can surprise a first-year owner when January arrives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you provide a Certificate of Insurance for downtown buildings?
Yes. We are a licensed and insured New York mover and we issue COIs for downtown Albany and Schenectady buildings and condo conversions regularly. Send us the building’s exact wording 3 to 5 business days before the move and we will get it on file with the property manager.
Can you handle steep, narrow old staircases?
Yes. Our crew knows the old Schenectady and Albany houses, the Stockade and GE Realty Plot homes, the Center Square brownstones, and the Troy brick townhouses, with their tight, turning stairs. We bring the right crew size and pad the carry so heavy pieces come down safely.
Are you a moving company or a broker?
We are a moving company. Hanley Moving Company uses our own trucks and our own W-2 crew on every job across the Capital Region. We never subcontract or hand off your move, and your information is never shared or sold.
Do you handle out-of-state and winter moves?
Yes. We run interstate moves under our US DOT and MC authority, and we handle winter moves every week with salted paths and floor protection. We also offer heated, climate-controlled storage, about $90 to $250 a month by unit size, if your dates do not line up.