Here’s What It Cost Me to Move from Virginia to Florida with Zippy Shell
As told to moveBuddha
- Danielle moved from Virginia Beach, Virginia, to Tampa, Florida, in August 2022 so her fiancé could start a bachelor’s degree program, an 813-mile move covering three bedrooms and two bathrooms (1,000 square feet).
- After comparing five quotes, Danielle hired Zippy Shell, and her Virginia to Florida move cost exactly what she was quoted: $2,730.
- This is Danielle’s story, shared as part of moveBuddha’s Better Moves Project.
This account is based on a conversation with Danielle, who moved from Virginia Beach, Virginia to Tampa, Florida in August 2022 using Zippy Shell. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
My fiancé and I had about three months to plan our move from Virginia Beach to Tampa after he was accepted into a bachelor’s degree program starting in the spring of 2023. Our shipment was small, about 25 boxes and standard household items weighing roughly 2,000 pounds, so we saved money by driving our own vehicles and handling the packing, loading, and unloading ourselves.
I’m a planner by nature, so I wanted this move to be as painless and affordable as possible. That took some extra work since we were moving during peak summer season, when capacity gets tight and service failures are more common.
During my week-long search for the right provider, I gathered information from nearly a dozen websites, including moveBuddha, and used moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator to build a budget.
My Zippy Shell experience at a glance
rating
4.2 / 5
- Communication: Zippy Shell communicated with me adequately throughout my move.
- Pricing accuracy and transparency: My quote was right on the money.
- Timeliness: Zippy Shell delivered my household goods within the agreed-upon delivery window.
- Professionalism: I liked Zippy Shell’s customer service and attention to detail.
- Loss and damage: Nothing got lost or damaged on my move.
- Would I use Zippy Shell again? Yes, I’d consider using Zippy Shell again on a future move.
Why my fiancé and I needed to move from Virginia to Florida
My fiancé was starting a bachelor’s degree program in Tampa in the spring of 2023, which gave us about three months to find a suitable moving company.
Our shipment only consisted of about 25 boxes and standard household items weighing approximately 2,000 pounds. We also decided to save money by driving our own vehicles and doing the packing, loading, and unloading ourselves. I was determined to make our move as painless and affordable as possible, even though we were moving during the peak summer season, when capacity can be tight and service failures are relatively common.
My move at a glance
| Move date | August 15, 2022 |
|---|---|
| Moved from | Virginia Beach, Virginia |
| Moved to | Tampa, Florida |
| Distance | 813 miles |
| Move size | 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms (1,000 square feet) |
| Moving company | Zippy Shell |
| Moving quote | $2,730 for a 15-foot container |
| Actual cost | $2,730 |
Why I chose Zippy Shell
I also found moveBuddha’s comprehensive moving checklist particularly helpful while I gathered quotes from truck rental companies like U-Haul and Penske and moving container companies like U-Pack, PODS, and Zippy Shell.
As quotes came in, I booked with whichever company was cheapest at the time, then canceled and rebooked whenever a lower price showed up.
Zippy Shell won out with top-notch customer service, the right container size at the right price, a quote that included transportation from Virginia to Florida and one month of storage, and a payment plan I could live with: half upfront and the remainder when the container was delivered.
My fiancé and I didn’t purchase any additional services or insurance, and we prepared by getting organized, looking for a new home in Tampa, and periodically packing boxes.
The one place Zippy Shell came up short was proactive communication once our container was in transit. The company’s representatives were pleasant and helpful whenever I called for updates, but I had to be the one to reach out.
Pickup day
Zippy Shell confirmed my reservation by email multiple times before the big day and called the morning the container was scheduled to be dropped off to let me know what time to expect it.
The container arrived as planned just before noon on August 12th, and my fiancé, our helpers, and I began the loading process. We had three full days, so we broke the job into small, manageable pieces.
Once everything was loaded, I called Zippy Shell and scheduled the container to be picked up on the 15th. If you’re booking a container move, build in that same kind of buffer for loading. It makes a stressful process much more manageable.
Delivery day
My container arrived in Tampa on September 2nd, well within the delivery window.
The driver called on the morning of the 2nd to let me know what time he’d arrive and to ask where I wanted the container placed to make unloading easier. He showed up on schedule, put the container exactly where I wanted it, and was gone quickly. My fiancé and I spent the next few days unloading at our own pace, and nothing had been lost or damaged.
Final thoughts
My move was a success by nearly every measure. My only real complaint is that I would have liked my things to arrive earlier in the delivery window, but Zippy Shell delivered within the agreed-upon timeframe, which is the standard I’d hold any mover to.
I’m not sure perfect moves exist, but mine came pretty close. I appreciated Zippy Shell’s accurate quote and strong customer service, and I felt like I got a good value for what I paid. As I put it at the time, “I’m really happy it’s over…lol.”
Thinking about your own move? Use moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator to compare quotes before you book.
My ratings
- Communication: 5
- Timeliness: 3
- Pricing accuracy and transparency: 5
- Overall experience: 4
I gave Zippy Shell top marks for pricing and communication but only a three for timeliness. I would have liked my things sooner, but Zippy Shell did deliver within the agreed-upon window, which is likely why I landed on a four instead of a five for my overall experience.
Before signing off, check out these helpful resources:
- Best Long-Distance Movers
- Best Moving Container Companies
- Zippy Shell vs. U-Pack: How Do They Compare?
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