Boxes need to be strong to be stacked safely – especially if they’re heavy. Stack heavy items at the front and bottom.

Sky-high property prices mean that a whopping 19% of Brits don’t think they will ever be able to afford to buy their own home.

Even for those lucky enough to be able to save for a deposit and secure a mortgage, the stress and hidden costs of moving can be tough to deal with.

10% of couples will argue when moving house, while 3% of those questioned in a new survey even said they’ve broken up with a partner during a house move.

These figures, from a new survey by Budget Van Rental, highlight how emotionally charged moving house can become.

One reason for this is that packing — and unpacking — can take much longer than expected and result in unforeseen loss and damage if not done correctly. On average, house movers start packing 13 days before their moving date, but some are living out of cardboard boxes for as long as 60 days.

Movers often aren’t in a rush to unpack, either. It takes an average of 45 days for movers to unpack fully in their new home.

Of course, the easiest way to move is to pay a professional removals firm to pack, move and unpack for you — but this kind of service doesn’t come cheap.

If you’re moving house on a budget and are planning to use a hired van for the majority of the move, then here are some tips to help you avoid the most common problems.

Tips for moving

Here are celebrity declutter Vicky Silverthorn’s top 10 house moving tips:

1. Make a list – start it early, include deadlines and keep one list in one place so it doesn’t get mislaid during the upheaval.
2. Get a folder – it sounds obvious but it’ll be your ‘go to’ place during the whole process of moving home.
3. Book a van – don’t try and squeeze everything into a car as you’ll often end up making several wasteful journeys. Think about what size van you need and book early, as do one third (29%) of relocating Brits.
4. Recruit friends and family – get dates in the diary so you aren’t left shifting everything by yourself. Over a quarter (28%) of people moving home call in favours from their nearest and dearest.
5. Declutter your belongings – recycle, rubbish and charity bags at the ready, particularly if you’re one of the 10% of Brits who transport items to their new property by foot or public transport. Work day-by-day, doing little and often.
6. Declutter your furniture – be ruthless and think about what will work in your new home. Arrange collection, disposal, or resale using sites such as eBay, Gumtree and Freecycle.
7. Pack smartly
8. Don’t forget your post – add all companies you’ll need to notify of your new address to your list, or set up mail redirection through Royal Mail for 3, 6 or 12 months.
9. Make sure your essentials are easily accessible on moving day – tea-making equipment is a must if you’re like one third (31%) of home movers who stick the kettle on as soon as they get into their new pad.
10. Make sure you factor in enough time to unpack – don’t underestimate this. If you think you need two days off work for moving, then take off four. Bear in mind it takes an average of 45 days to completely unpack.

For more tips on how to load a van and do your own removals, check out the vanrental.co.uk DIY removals guide.