1. Do a good clean! It will be more difficult to clean after your furniture has been arranged and things have been put away, so get it done before you unpack.

2. Change your address. Register with Royal Mail’s redirection service so you don’t miss any letters, and then contact everyone to let them know you’ve moved. We don’t just mean your family and friends - let your bank, utility suppliers, insurance companies, DVLA, doctors, dentists, schools and jobs (to name but a few) know as soon as possible.

3. Unpack the essentials first – the things you’ll need to get you through the first few nights. It’s a good idea to have packed a ‘weekend bag’ for the move so you don’t have to rummage through countless boxes for things in the first couple of days.

4. Make things feel subconsciously like home – get the iPod speakers and your favourite scented candles (and some matches) out on the first night and your new place will sound and smell like home faster than you can imagine.

5. Set aside a box room – collect all the less important items and boxes that you’re not quite sure what to do with just yet, and put them all in the same room so you can shut them away to make the place feel more normal. Then you can go in to sort them out gradually when you have time.