Relocation Design Checklist Israel: What to Know Before You Even Pick a Neighborhood.
- Mary Amor
- Mar 31
- 3 min read
Updated: Apr 10
A relocation design checklist for international clients moving to Israel. Learn what to consider before you even choose your neighborhood or pack a single box.
Relocation Design Checklist to Israel : What to Know Before You Even Pick a Neighborhood
Let’s get one thing out of the way: relocating to Israel is never just about logistics.
It’s about identity.
Safety.
Belonging.
Sometimes it’s about escape.
Sometimes it’s about return.
Either way, it’s emotional. And yet, your inbox will be flooded with bureaucratic noise, landlord dramas, and people who think putting an IKEA dresser in your bedroom counts as "furnished."
This checklist isn’t a Pinterest curation. It’s a reality check for anyone moving to Israel and wanting their new home to reflect more than just where they landed. It’s for people who care about how they live, not just where they live.
Step 1: Define the Why (It’s Deeper Than You Think)
Why are you coming here?
Aliyah
Work
Family
Rising antisemitism
Investment or vacation home
This isn’t a checkbox it’s what drives the space you need. A family of five making Aliyah from London needs something completely different than a Tel Aviv bachelor investing in a pied-à-terre for two months a year. Your reason shapes your design.
Step 2: Property Reality Check
Have you already:
Bought the property?
Signed a lease?
Still hunting with five tabs open and a prayer?
And what is it?
Apartment
Duplex
Garden flat
Villa
If you haven’t found it yet, that’s fine , I often help clients before they commit to a space. Because let’s be honest, choosing a property without a design strategy is like marrying someone because they looked good in one photo.
Step 3: Location Isn’t Just Geography
Israel is layered. Every neighborhood has a culture , religious, secular, mixed, international, Haredi, creative, coastal, quiet. Choosing where to live means choosing who your neighbors are, what your kids hear on the playground, and where you’ll grab your coffee.
Consider:
Proximity to schools (secular, international, religious)
Parks and walkability
Synagogues, churches, mosques — or none at all
Language access and community integration
Daily errands — car or no car?
You’re not just picking a pin on a map. You’re designing your day-to-day.
Step 4: Family & Function
Do you have kids? Do they need space to run around? To disappear into their rooms?
Do you work from home? Need a guest suite for relatives flying in from three time zones away?
Think in zones:
Sleep
Play
Work
Storage
Quiet escape (for you , not them)
Step 5: Will This Be a Renovation or a Rescue Mission?
Here’s the truth: most properties in Israel need work. Even the expensive ones.
Especially the expensive ones.
Be brutally honest:
Do you need a full gut renovation?
Or just a fast-track makeover before arrival?
Are you redoing floor plans? Kitchens? Bathrooms?
Pro tip: never underestimate what can be done in three months with the right team.
And never assume the real estate agent’s definition of “move-in ready” is the same as yours.
Step 6: What Comes With You, What Stays Behind
Are you shipping containers from abroad? Just suitcases? Or something in between?
I help clients figure out:
What’s worth shipping (spoiler: not your old mattress)
What’s better sourced here (custom, climate-appropriate, local chic)
What has emotional value vs. aesthetic value
Design isn’t just about styling. It’s storytelling and sometimes editing.
Step 7: How Ready Do You Want It?
Some clients want to land and unpack a toothbrush. Others want to ease in slowly, evolve over time.
There’s no right answer, just clarity.
Do you want:
Beds made, candles lit, artwork hung?
Basic setup + room to evolve?
Vacation home that’s lock-and-go?
Your timeline + lifestyle = the design plan.
Step 8: Emotional Anchors
Yes, we’re talking about floor plans and fixtures. But we’re also talking about belonging. This is your life, uprooted, replanted, and reimagined.
What do you want to feel when you walk in that door?
Safe
Seen
Inspired
At peace
All of the above
Good design does that. And yes, even in Israel.
Want a space that’s more than a landing pad?
let’s talk.
Because this isn’t just relocation. This is how you come home.
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