In the aftermath of the recession, the home improvement industry has roared back. That's decreased the availability of skilled contractors, including plumbers, electricians and carpenters, among others.

"Right now, it's hard to find good contractors that aren't slammed with work. We're experiencing a big deficit of skilled tradesman," says H. Dale Contant, president of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry.

Sid Davis, a real estate broker and author of "Home Makeovers That Sell," recommends that sellers in need of pre-sale remodeling take a strategic approach to finding and vetting contractors to help prep their property for sale.

"It's probably a mistake to hire your brother-in-law, even if he offers you a cut-rate price. Likewise, you probably won't do well with that random guy who hangs a flier on your front door," Davis says.

Here are a few pointers for sellers:

-- Don't necessarily take the lowest available bid.

Marty Schirber, who led his family-owned remodeling company for 45 years, says the cheapest bid for a home improvement job doesn't guarantee the best deal for the homeowner.

"An unusually low bid may be cause for alarm," he says, noting that it could indicate that the contractor doesn't fully grasp the project's scope. It could also reflect inexperience or an underestimation of the cost of labor and materials.

In the worst-case scenario, Schirber says, the low bid could mean the contractor is "planning to cut corners by using inferior materials, low-paid, inexperienced workers, or not following local building codes."

On the other hand, he occasionally encounters people who've had horrific experiences working with high-priced contractors.

He says the key is to present all the bidders with specifications for your jobs and then to ask each to break out the charges on a line-by-line basis.

Those seeking online pointers on contractor selection may wish to visit the website of a company called Ask the Builder, at www.askthebuilder.com

-- Nail your contractor down on all the details.

Once you've chosen your contractor, it's time to get all aspects of your project down in writing.

"The contract should convey to everyone involved what the finished product will look like," Schirber says.

Among other elements, this document should spell out a summary of the work, as well as provisions for permits, estimated starting and completion dates and a schedule of payments. It should also include procedures for handling change orders.

-- Generate a list of possible contractors for pre-sale repairs.

Many people dislike arduous legwork involved in trying to locate contractors. But R. Dodge Woodson, author of "Tips & Traps for Hiring a Contractor," advises against using the Yellow Pages or online advertising for this purpose.

A more reliable approach, he says, is to seek out recommendations from acquaintances who've had work done on their own homes.

"Ask everyone you know. Treat this like a treasure hunt," Woodson says.

Eric Tyson, co-author of "House Selling for Dummies," recommends you request contractors' names through local real estate agents.

"Realtors have lots of dealings with contractors and should be able to distinguish the good from the bad," he says.

Also, contractors may be more attentive to your project if they know you could complain about their work to the agent, which could limit their chances for repeat business.

-- Solicit names from neighbors you know and respect.

As Davis says, a ready source of contractors' names can be found right in your own neighborhood.

"Through the grapevine ... you can pick up the names of people who do excellent work. You can also rule out those who do lousy work," he says.

One novel way of getting referrals from nearby residents is to throw a neighborhood party and ask all who attend to bring along the name of at least one contractor they like.

-- Look beyond a single bid.

Woodson, who's worked much of his career as a licensed plumber and also ran a home improvement business, strongly recommends that homeowners obtain five estimates for any major work, particularly for any job worth over $5,000.

"It's ideal to get more than three bids. That way you'll have a larger pool with which to do comparisons," he says.

Once you have all your estimates lined up, Woodson suggests you eliminate anyone charging more than 20 percent above the median. Also, toss out anyone charging 20 percent less.

-- Survey a contractor's work by visiting other clients' homes.

After you've narrowed the contractors' field with a comparison of price estimates, you might think your next step is to ask any company you're considering for photos of completed work that could be sent to you by email. But Woodson says this is usually a "pointless exercise."

"Anyone can just take pictures off the internet. That doesn't prove anything," he says.

To get a better sense of a contractor's work, ask to visit homes where that firm is now working or where it has recently completed jobs.

"If a contractor won't give you references you can go visit, you've got to wonder what they're hiding," Woodson says.

(To contact Ellen James Martin, email her at ellenjamesmartin@gmail.com.)

Many homebuyers are drawn to condo ownership by the simplicity and convenience of living in a building where most upkeep is handled by a maintenance staff. But real estate experts urge condo buyers to exercise caution to select a unit with strong resale value, especially if they don't plan to hold the condo for long, or their living situation necessitates a need for more space or a major relocation in the near future.

"The condo market has historically been more volatile than the market for detached single-family homes. That's why it's important to think about your time horizon when buying a condo," says Aaron Terrazas, a senior economist for Zillow, which tracks real estate markets throughout the country.

Here are a few pointers for those intending to buy a condo:

-- Seek an area with a strong employment base.

Fred Meyer, a veteran broker and appraiser, says the vitality of a local real estate market is usually closely linked to the employment strength of the area. But as he notes, the buyers of condos shouldn't count on a single employer to keep the local economy afloat.

"You don't want to buy in a 'one big company' town that would be badly hurt if that single employer closes," he says.

How can you investigate the strength of the local economy?

"If you want to get sophisticated in your research, go to the offices of the Chamber of Commerce and ask them what's happening to jobs in the area," Meyer says.

By avoiding an economically depressed area, you not only enhance your chances of owning a salable condo -- you also increase the likelihood of living in a vibrant area where you'll be happy.

-- Use both objective and subjective measures to judge any condo complex.

As Meyer says, your emotional reaction to a condo building can be helpful in the selection process. But you, along with your real estate agent, will also want to search out data that helps you analyze the pros and cons of buying in a particular building.

"Look at the resale history for the building going back for as long as four years. Notice especially the median number of days that it takes to sell units in the building. The more days it typically takes to go from list to sell, the less liquid the building," Meyer says.

Also, he says you should be sure to check the "reserves" of the building, which translates to the amount of money owners there have set aside for key repairs and renovations.

"If the building needs a new roof and there's no money available for this, all the owners could be hit with a big special assessment. A poorly financed building can become run-down, making it less desirable for future owners," Meyer says.

-- Avoid buying in a building with rock-bottom condo fees.

Nearly all condo buildings impose fees on residents. Among other expenses, these monthly charges cover the cost of routine upkeep on a building and its grounds, along with support services, like a concierge at the front entrance.

Tom Early, a real estate broker and past president of the National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents, says condo buyers sometimes shop for a building with the lowest possible monthly fees to help curtail their expenditures. But seeking out a building with rock-bottom fees could be a mistake.

"Nearly always, you get only what you pay for in condo fees. A building with surprisingly low fees might actually decline in value, due to poor maintenance. That could make your unit hard to sell in the future," he says.

-- Steer clear of a building with a high proportion of renters.

Homebuyer advocates are wary of buildings in which a large percentage of the units have been rented out by their owners.

"Owner-occupants feel a natural pressure to ensure that a building is adequately maintained and has plenty of money set aside in reserves for future repairs and improvements. Renters feel no such natural pressure," Meyer says.

What percentage of owner-occupants is sufficient? That depends on the location of the building. In most cases, Meyer says you'll want to see more than half the units occupied by owners. However, this rule may not hold in a resort community where seasonal rentals are the norm.

Even though it's not wise to choose a building with a large number of renters, Meyer says it's also important to avoid a building that prohibits owners from renting out their units should they wish to do so.

-- Shop wisely for the right unit within a condo building.

Even in the ideal building, not all apartments are created equal.

Meyer says it's usually unwise to buy one of the most expensive condos in a building.

"Buying one of the least expensive condos in a building with much larger and fancier units will help hold up the value of your property over time. That means in the future you'll probably be able to sell more quickly and for more money. In real estate, you always want progression in values rather than regression," he says.

-- Make sure you love the condo you're buying.

Statistics yield a lot of information about the desirability of a condo building. But your emotional response to a building can also be telling, Meyer says.

"Make sure you really love the condo with both heart and soul. If you love it wholeheartedly, chances are good others will love it, too," he says.

(To contact Ellen James Martin, email her at ellenjamesmartin@gmail.com.)

Eric Tyson and Michael Crowley are both empty nesters, with offspring away at college. Both are owners of whopper-sized houses. But the two have very different visions of the best housing situations.

Crowley, a divorced real estate broker, lives alone in a 5,700-square-foot Victorian house with three family rooms, four bathrooms and six bedrooms. Most of the bedrooms are empty of furniture and never used. That's one reason he's looking forward to the day his son graduates from college. Then he'll sell the house and move to an 1,100-square-foot condo he already owns.

"I can't wait to be free of a mortgage and all that home maintenance so I can travel more," says Crowley.

Tyson, a personal finance author and the father of three college-age sons, owns a traditional 5,500-square-foot house. But he and his wife have no intention of downsizing. They admit to a sentimental attachment to the suburban property where they raised their children, and love owning a place with ample elbow space to accommodate visiting friends and family members.

Both Crowley and Tyson acknowledge that ownership of a huge house imposes a lot of costs in terms of time, money and energy. Both face high utility bills and rising property taxes. For Crowley, those expenses are a deal-breaker. Not so for Tyson, the author of "Personal Finance For Dummies."

At this point in the economic cycle, there are many crosscurrents of thought among Americans of different ages as to whether it's better to live small in a low-maintenance housing unit or to enjoy the benefits of a large property with less convenience, but loads of living space.

For buyers with the wherewithal to choose between ownership of a compact place or a big one, here are a few pointers:

-- Consider both the pros and cons of the two options.

Mark Nash, a longtime real estate broker and author of "1001 Tips for Buying and Selling a Home," says nearly all buyers face trade-offs.

"Making a priority list is the absolute key. You have to decide which features are the most important for each person in your household. Your best home-style is going to be determined by your lifestyle," he says.

If you're married or living with a partner, Nash recommends you sit down with the other person and each rank your housing priorities. Then compare notes and, if there are differences, compromise.

Though Nash is single, he faced his own set of trade-offs some years back when he decided to sell his fancy 3,200-square-foot house in an upscale city neighborhood in favor of a 1,000-square-foot condo-apartment in a middle-income suburb. He could have moved to a larger home, but his higher priority was to save enough money to also buy a modest lakeside getaway.

"By downsizing to the condo, I bought myself some breathing room financially. At the time, going smaller was definitely the right decision for me," Nash says.

His housing transition came with some sacrifices. Though he liked his neighbors in the condo complex, he missed the greenery that surrounded his city house. He also missed the privacy of a single-family property.

"Sometimes I wanted to be alone, but that was hard living so close to other people in a condo building. Every time I stepped into the hallway, people wanted to talk. I'd also hear noise coming from their apartments, which felt like a minor invasion of my privacy," Nash says.

-- Ask yourself how much space you truly need for entertaining.

Among those who hanker for a large home are buyers who love to throw parties, as well as people who believe that home entertaining is central to the fulfillment of their professional obligations.

"I know CEOs who think they must have a very big place to show off to clients or colleagues. They feel the need for this, even if their spouses don't want all the complications of big house upkeep," Nash says.

If home-based entertaining with large events is something you value highly and you're comfortable with the payments on a big property, why not go for it? But if you're interested in the financial benefits of living smaller, Nash suggests you consider some less expensive options for your parties.

"Why not take your guests to your favorite restaurant and rent a space for your parties? That could be a lot less expensive than maintaining a big house just for entertaining," he says.

-- Remember your storage needs before you buy.

Sid Davis, a real estate broker and author of "A Survival Guide For Buying a Home," says many homebuyers like big houses because they place a premium on having lots of storage space.

Assuming you can afford it, Davis says buying a large house for extra storage space could be a reasonable idea. After all, a large house could save you a significant sum over the rental expense required for the long-term use of a self-storage unit.

But he cautions against the assumption that ownership of a big house will let you keep accumulating ever more possessions.

"Face it, no matter how big your storage areas are, eventually you'll run out of space if you keep shopping without ever purging. So don't deceive yourself about that reality," Davis says.

(To contact Ellen James Martin, email her at ellenjamesmartin@gmail.com.)