BrickUnderground

Hiring a mover seems simple at first glance. You call them up or fill out a form on their website, they give you a quote, and then you schedule the move. But how can you be confident that the price on your screen is what ends up on the bill on moving day?

Matt Ockers, Senior Moving Consultant at FlatRate Moving, has seen every version of this play out. Here are five details worth paying attention to before you sign anything, whether you are leaving a high-rise in Midtown, a walk-up in Brooklyn, or a prewar apartment full of antiques.

Are you a New Yorker looking to upgrade your windows? Walk into any window showroom in the country and a salesperson will show you double-hung windows. They'll talk about energy ratings and hardware finishes. They might even let you open and close a few.

But in New York City, that conversation is only 20 percent of what actually matters. The other 80 percent has to happen outside of the showroom and includes:

Environmental concerns are becoming a growing challenge, and sustainability is becoming no longer an option but a necessity. Opting to go green is becoming more than just an option; it is a deliberate attempt to lead a happy, healthy, and fulfilling future.