There’s a moment that comes before a move:

Not the listing appointment. Not the open houses. Not even the decision.

It’s the quiet knowing.

You’re not ready yet. You don’t have dates circled or boxes in the garage. But you can feel that something is shifting. The house still works, technically. It’s just not working the way it used to.

If that sounds familiar, I want to reassure you of something right away. This stage is not procrastination. It’s preparation.

The In-Between Phase Is a Real Phase

Many homeowners believe they’re “doing nothing” if they aren’t actively buying or selling. In reality, some of the most important work happens before any visible action at all.

This in-between phase often looks like:

Mentally rearranging rooms and realizing nothing quite solves the problem
Noticing small frustrations that feel bigger than they should
Imagining what life might feel like in a different kind of home
Wondering if this house still fits the season you’re inHere in Annapolis and throughout Anne Arundel County, I see this phase often. Families, couples, and empty nesters aren’t rushing. They’re listening to what their lives are telling them.

Why Indecision Is Often a Sign of Thoughtfulness

People who move confidently aren’t impulsive. They’re informed.

When the timing isn’t clear yet, it’s usually because there are multiple factors in play. Finances. Interest rates. School years. Work changes. Emotional attachment. Family needs.

That doesn’t mean you’re stuck. It means you’re weighing real things that deserve consideration.

The goal of this phase isn’t to decide when you’ll move. It’s to understand what would make moving feel right when the time comes.

What Planning Looks Like Without Pressure

Planning doesn’t require commitment. It requires curiosity.

At this stage, productive planning might include:

Getting a realistic sense of what your home could sell for today
Understanding how much equity you’ve built and what that creates access to
Exploring neighborhoods or home styles that would better support your life now
Talking through timing scenarios without locking yourself into one

None of this puts you on the market. It simply replaces uncertainty with information.

Emotionally Ready vs Logistically Ready

One of the biggest disconnects I see is when people feel emotionally ready for change but assume they must also be logistically ready before they can even think about it.

Those two things rarely line up at the same time.

You might be emotionally ready before the numbers make sense. Or logistically ready before you’ve fully let go of the idea of staying. Both are normal.

Clarity comes when you understand where you are on both sides, not when you force them to match.

Why This Phase Matters More Than You Think

When people skip this stage and rush into decisions, they often feel unsettled later. They second-guess timing. They wonder if they missed something. They feel reactive instead of intentional.

When people honor this phase, something different happens. They move with confidence when the opportunity arises. They recognize the right home. They know when it’s time.

That’s not luck. That’s preparation.