If you're ready to do some spring cleaning or just tired of a potential avalanche every time you open the hall closet, it may be time to consider a yard sale. You don't need to invest a huge amount of time and effort, just a few hours for the actual event, and a bit of pre-planning a month or two in advance.

Decide on a Date and Start Planning!

Your first decision needs to be when you'll hold your yard sale. Saturdays and Sundays are the best days, but take into consideration the nature of your neighborhood. If you have a large population of Sunday church goers, you may want to stick to a Saturday morning.

Avoid holiday weekends, since most people will be occupied with parties and events or headed out of town. Check long-term weather forecasts to see if there's a big danger for rain or poor weather. While you can't predict the weather even the day before, make sure you have a backup plan in case you're rained out.

Spur of the moment yard sales generally have little success. For the most publicity, advertise early and in multiple ways. If your community has a public forum like a bulletin board, town crier, or online news board, post a notice there. Local online classifieds like CraigsList are a great place to advertise for free. Don't forget the tried and true method of big poster board signs on utility poles, just make sure you check with your local government that your yard sale signs are allowed.