How to overcome the biggest relocation challenges

Update June 22nd 2026

Relocating abroad comes with real challenges. Understanding the most common issues of relocation before you move can save you a lot of stress. Whether you're dealing with housing, cultural adjustment, paperwork or simply not knowing where to start, we’re happy to help. This guide walks you through each challenge and offers practical solutions.

Relocating abroad - even if only temporarily - is a little bit more complicated than just packing up your stuff and leaving. You are changing the course of your life, both personally and professionally. And that, of course, brings with it the necessary challenges. The relocation problems most people encounter go beyond just finding housing. 

Why would one temporarily relocate abroad?

Everyone who decides to move abroad – again, even if only temporarily – has his or her own reasons for doing so. Some simply want to expand their personal horizon and experience a different country and culture for a while. Others move abroad because of their work or career opportunities.

One of the first challenges you will have to face has to do with housing: should you look for a house or an apartment? And should you buy or rent?

• Buy: if you are relocating abroad temporarily, you may decide - if you have the means - to buy a house or apartment. However, from a rational and practical point of view, this might not be a good decision. After all, when you decide to buy something, you almost always buy with a long-term view in mind, which isn’t the case if you are looking for temporary housing. It would be way too big of an investment for a rather short period, not to mention the practical issues and arrangements you would have to deal with if you want to sell again afterward.
• Rent: That is why renting a house or apartment for the duration of your stay is a way better choice. By renting you give yourself the flexibility you need in temporary accommodation. Also, you have to take into account much less practical matters and deal with less paperwork and other organizational stuff. In addition, renting also offers you the necessary flexibility in terms of furnishings. You can rent furniture and interior decoration. This has the great advantage that you can rely on quality furniture without having to ship your entire household contents abroad (immediately).

Besides housing, of course, there are other major challenges you will have to face when relocating abroad:

• Language and culture barriers: living and working in another country also means living and working in another language and in another culture. Therefore, it is important to prepare yourself well prior to relocating and gather information about the country you are relocating to. Ask yourself: What are the local norms, values, and customs? What is the work culture like? What is the language and/or lingua franca? Etc...
• Living and working environment: Furthermore, when you relocate abroad, you will also have to accommodate to a different living and working environment. If you are not immediately familiar with the country and the place where you are moving to, this transition can be difficult. Therefore, try to familiarise yourself with your new city or environment before you relocate.
• Personal and social life: Relocating to another country - even temporarily - also brings a big change in your personal and social life. You will have to leave friends and family behind and also create a new "home" for yourself. Therefore, it is best to make some connections in your new environment as soon to help yourself settle in and reduce the risk of suffering from homesickness.
• Practical matters: Finally, relocating abroad requires a lot of practical organization. You probably want to take everything with you from your current home, but will find that that is almost impossible. Moving furniture, for example, can be quite a challenge, especially if you have to move everything back again within a relatively short period of time. That is why renting furniture is a great alternative to temporarily ‘decorate your life’. And that is exactly what we at In-Lease can help you with.

How to overcome relocation challenges: a practical checklist

Relocating abroad is manageable when you break it down into steps. Use this checklist to make sure you've covered the most common relocation issues before and after your move.

Before you move

• Research the local rental market and secure housing before arrival
• Look into visa and work permit requirements for your destination country
• Book a furniture rental service so your home is ready from day one
• Familiarise yourself with local workplace culture and basic language phrases
• Notify relevant institutions (bank, employer, tax authority) of your upcoming move

On arrival

• Register with the local municipality as soon as possible
• Set up a local bank account and arrange health insurance
• Connect utilities (electricity, water, internet) or confirm your furniture rental partner handles this
• Explore your new neighbourhood and locate essential services (supermarket, GP, pharmacy)

In the first weeks

• Join local expat groups or community networks to build a social circle
• Set up a routine to reduce the disorientation that comes with any international relocation
• Check in with your employer or HR team to address any outstanding relocation problems early

One of the most time-consuming items on this list is furnishing your home. Shipping your own furniture abroad is expensive, slow and impractical for temporary stays. Sourcing everything locally takes time you don't have in the first days of a new assignment. That's where In-Lease comes in.

At In-Lease, we specialize in furniture rental for international moves and relocations. We offer a variety of flexible rental packages that allow you to rent complete furniture packages or put together your own furniture rental package. An example of one of our flexible rental packages is the TEMP formula.

The TEMP formula is essentially our basic furniture rental package. It allows you to rent pre-composed furniture packages for periods up to 12 weeks. This formula is, for example, very suitable when you are waiting for your own furniture to make the big crossing. Within the TEMP formula you can also rent electrical equipment and upgrade to our other formulas. These are more comprehensive and allow you to rent for longer periods all the way up to 60 months. More information on our different formulas can be found on our rental formulas page.

Would you like to receive more information about our furniture rental services and our rental formulas? Browse our rental packages or request a quote. 

Would you like to secure furniture as soon as possible for your temporary move abroad? Then take a look at our different rental formulas.