A relocation expert who has helped hundreds of families move to Spain reveals the biggest mistakes they make

For thousands of British families dreaming of a new life under the Spanish sun, the move can feel like the start of an exciting new chapter. But according to relocation expert Lisa Sadleir, who has spent years helping families make the transition, many make avoidable mistakes that can turn a dream move into a stressful experience.

Lisa, author of Moving to Spain with Children (updated edition coming soon), has guided hundreds of families through the process and says the same problems appear time and time again.

The biggest mistakes happen before families even arrive

According to Lisa, one of the most common errors is assuming everything will somehow fall into place once they get to Spain.

“People move without a realistic financial plan and assume things will somehow work themselves out once they arrive,” she says.

“Spain isn’t the easiest place to do that, especially if you don’t already have the legal right to work or a stable source of income.”

Another major mistake is choosing a home based purely on appearance rather than practicality.

“People fall in love with a property and rush into a rental or purchase before checking whether the location actually works for everyday family life,” Lisa explains.

“The prettiest house isn’t much use if the school run, commuting or daily shopping become a constant struggle.”

Spain isn’t as cheap as many people think

One of the biggest misconceptions British families have, she says, is that moving abroad will dramatically reduce their living costs.

“Twenty or thirty years ago, that might have been true, but it certainly isn’t the case everywhere today.”

While Spain still offers what many families consider a better quality of life, rising housing costs, utility bills, groceries, private healthcare and international school fees mean many newcomers are surprised by the reality.

“I always encourage people to move to Spain for the lifestyle rather than because they think it will save them money.”

The three things families should prioritise

For parents planning a move, Lisa says schools, residency and finances should be at the top of the list.

“If you have children, schools and location need to be planned together, not one after the other.”

She also advises non-EU families to begin visa and residency applications well in advance.

“The process is far less forgiving than it used to be.”

And above all, she urges families to budget carefully, not just for everyday life but for the move itself.

Many people forget to account for research trips, rental deposits, legal fees, shipping costs, health insurance and setting up a new home.

“These expenses add up far more quickly than expected.”

The first-year trap that catches many expats

Once settled, many families assume the hard work is over.

In reality, Lisa says the first year often presents a new set of challenges.

One of the biggest is letting paperwork lapse.

“My own husband once allowed his residency to lapse simply because we hadn’t needed it for a while,” she reveals.

“Untangling that mistake took months of appointments, expired documents and one piece of paper after another.”

She also warns against remaining in an expat bubble.

“It’s comfortable at first, but it can slow down how settled and connected you actually feel. Integration into the Spanish community changes your whole experience of life here.”

Why the happiest families thrive

After helping hundreds of families relocate, Lisa says the most successful movers share several traits.

“They have a stable source of income that doesn’t depend on finding work in Spain, and they’ve accepted that they’re choosing a different lifestyle rather than trying to recreate life back home.”

They also embrace the language, engage with their local community and remain flexible when things don’t go exactly to plan.

Perhaps most importantly, they arrive with realistic expectations.

“Moving to Spain can be a wonderful decision, but it’s not a magic wand,” Lisa says.

“The happiest families are usually the ones who arrive well prepared and with realistic expectations.”