A washing machine appliance, as provided herein may include a cabinet, a tub housed within the cabinet, a basket rotatably mounted within the tub, a measurement device attached to the tub, a motor, and a controller. The motor may be in mechanical communication with the basket. The motor may be configured to selectively rotate the basket within the tub. The controller may be in operative communication with the motor and the measurement device. The controller may be configured to initiate an operation cycle. The operation cycle may include spinning the basket at a set dwell speed during a predetermined dwell period, measuring movement of the tub during the predetermined dwell period, determining an out-of-balance mass within the basket based on the measured movement, and halting the basket in response to determining the out-of-balance mass.