As the housing market rolls into the first quarter of 2020, buyers searching for a brand-new home have cause for celebration. Finally, builders are stepping up production.

After the Great Recession, residential construction -- especially for affordable single-family homes -- took a steep drop. Nervous about whether the economic recovery was sustainable, many builders backed off for years. Until now.

Tom Early, a longtime real estate broker, says an increase in new construction not only helps buyers. It also motivates potential move-up sellers who’ve outgrown their homes. For several years, many would-be sellers have been sitting on the sidelines, waiting for more new construction in their price range to become available.

“Lots of people with growing families are thrilled at the prospect of an exciting new place with the bells and whistles they see on the TV home shows. They crave high ceilings and a big eat-in kitchen that flows into a spacious great room. They also want extra bedrooms for home offices,” says Early, a past president of the National Association of Exclusive Buyers Agents (naeba.org).

Early, who works solely with buyers and takes no listing contracts, says it’s critically important that all sellers find a highly professional agent to represent them.

“Who you pick is hardly a trivial matter. Just as you spend time finding a good lawyer, accountant or doctor, you should do likewise when you’re trying to locate an excellent listing agent for your sale. This is just basic due diligence,” he says.

As Early points out, finding the best available listing agent can be harder than it seems -- despite the fact that more than 1 million Americans are licensed to sell real estate. Here are a few pointers:

-- Search for an agent who knows your locale well.

Your uncle or someone you know from your church or synagogue might be an excellent real estate agent. But should you consider hiring this person if their office is located a significant distance away from where you live?

Absolutely not, says Early, who contends that a faraway agent is likely to be much less effective in marketing your property than one who knows your local turf well.

“No matter how sharp he is, you really don’t want that agent across town who doesn’t have an intimate knowledge of your neighborhood,” Early says.

It’s especially wise to have an agent close by if you’re trying to sell a property in an urban setting -- such as a condo in a high-rise building. In such a case, the ideal agent is often someone with proven experience selling units in your same building.

“For one thing, the pros in your immediate area know the nuances of pricing much better. For another, they’ll know other local agents with clients who are searching for the exact type of property you’re putting up for sale,” Early says.

-- Schedule an in-home visit with at least two to three listing prospects.

Without interviewing other contenders, you may be tempted to simply hire the first agent who comes highly recommended. But Ronald Phipps, the broker-owner of a family-owned real estate brokerage, says it’s wise to interview at least one to two other candidates.

“When you talk to several people, you’ll get different perspectives on your sale,” Phipps says. Several opinions on pricing can be especially helpful.

He says you should be wary of any agent who recommends you list your place for more than 10% above what others say is its fair market value.

“Find out how they arrived at that higher price,” says Phipps, noting that occasionally some agents may suggest an above-market list price as a way to flatter you into hiring them. This practice is known as “buying the listing.”

-- Request information on the candidates’ professional accomplishments.

How can you identify agents who have achieved an unusual level of expertise? Phipps says one way to distinguish among agents is to ask if they’ve been elected to positions of leadership within their professional groups.

“This shows they have a reputation for collaborating with other real estate people,” Phipps says.

-- Select a seasoned listing agent with a proven deal-closing record.

During boom times, most sellers feel home free once they’ve obtained a ratified contract -- meaning their deal has been agreed upon by both sides of the transaction.

The economy is strong now. Still, Phipps says many sellers remain understandably nervous that complications along the way to closing could scotch their deal. That’s because these days, more purchasers have to drop out because their mortgage financing has been turned down.

“Selling has become much more complicated. That’s why it’s smart to find an agent with experience handling many different kinds of transactions. Look for their record of closing deals, not just taking listings,” Phipps says.

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

Throughout 2019, home sellers in most neighborhoods have been riding high due to rising prices and a shortage of available property. But economists are cautioning that outlook could change in the new year.

“Sellers in 2020 will contend with flattening price growth and slowing activity, requiring more patience and a thoughtful approach to pricing,” says George Ratiu, a senior economist at Realtor.com, a real estate listings website.

Still, Ratiu doesn’t anticipate a steep drop in demand for property in 2020 akin to what happened during the Great Recession just over a decade ago. What’s more, he expects that sales activity could stay robust in certain affordable communities that are popular with young, cash-tight buyers.

“Sellers of homes priced for entry-level buyers can expect the market to remain competitive and prices to stay firm,” Ratiu says.

No matter the market conditions they’ll face, those who hope to sell in 2020 can’t afford an attitude of complacency, says Eric Tyson, a consumer advocate and co-author of “House Selling for Dummies.”

“To achieve the best possible outcome for your sale, it’s tremendously important that you take a proactive approach. That means all the cosmetic upgrades and repairs your place needs should be done before it’s available for public showings,” Tyson says.

One option for savvy sellers is to arrange for a professional home inspection even before their listing hits the market. This approach is recommended by Dylan Chalk, a veteran inspector and author of “The Confident House Hunter.”

R. Dodge Woodson, author of multiple books on home repairs and remodeling, says many sellers are reluctant to go forward with pre-sale repairs because of the cost and inconvenience involved.

Still, he says it’s important to spend the time it takes to search for the right contractors for your repair work, whether that involves fixing a nonfunctional garage door or repairing a leaky roof.

Here are a few pointers for sellers:

-- Take a broad approach to identifying good contractors.

Woodson advises against using online advertising to hunt for home improvement contractors. A more reliable approach is to seek recommendations from friends, neighbors or work associates who’ve had experience with the contractors they’re suggesting.

“Ask everyone you know for names. Consider this a treasure hunt,” Woodson says.

Besides those in your immediate circle, Tyson says you may wish to garner contractors’ names through the real estate agent with whom you plan to list your home.

“Realtors can really be good sources because they have lots of interactions with contractors. They’ll hear complaints if a contractor does a lousy job,” Tyson says.

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

“If an agent hears complaints about contractors, the agent might stop throwing them work. This fear gives them an incentive to work harder for you,” Tyson says.

-- Seek a number of estimates from contractors.

Woodson, who has worked much of his career as a licensed plumber and has also run his own home improvement company, strongly recommends that homeowners obtain five estimates for any job expected to cost more than $1,000.

Why five estimates? Because experience has taught Woodson that consumers need a range of bids to gain perspective on pricing.

“What you usually want is a contractor in the middle of the pack on price. You can throw away an estimate from anyone who comes in 25 percent or more above or below the others in the pack. The guy at the top is charging too much, and the one at the bottom is probably cutting corners,” he says.

-- Make sure the contractors you hire will perform as promised.

After you’ve narrowed the contractors’ field with a comparison of price estimates, you may think your next step is to ask any company you’re considering for references. But Woodson says this is usually a “pointless exercise.”

“You don’t know if that reference is really someone’s brother-in-law or maybe someone else the company hired to say good things about them,” he says.

Also, Woodson says it’s a mistake to rely on photos the contractor has sent you via email.

“How do you know that these pictures show the contractor’s real work? Even if they do, the photos could have been doctored,” Woodson says.

To get a better impression of a contractor’s work, ask to visit homes where the firm is now working or has recently completed jobs.

“Sure, someone from the company has to call clients to get their permission for you to come over. But even so, the company shouldn’t balk at letting you see their work. If they do, you’ve got to wonder what they’re hiding. This is a big red flag,” Woodson says.

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

A retired diplomat in his late 60s was compelled to leave his spacious family home due to an injury. Hence, he and his wife moved to a retirement community and put their three-story colonial up for sale.

Located in a plush neighborhood where available properties are still scarce, the house attracted multiple bidders. It was soon acquired by a married couple of engineers who were anxious to move up to the prestigious community that featured strong schools and a popular dog park.

Fred Meyer, an independent real estate broker and appraiser who sells property near Harvard University, doesn’t know the diplomat in this true story. But he’s not surprised by the tale because an increasing number of owners from the baby boom generation -- born between 1946 and 1964 -- are finally selling their homes, often after a health crisis.

Indeed, Zillow, a Seattle-based firm that tracks housing markets throughout the country, is now predicting a “silver tsunami” as an increasing number of older owners put their properties on the market.

The company estimates that roughly 730,000 U.S. homes owned by those over 60 are now sold annually. But by 2027, that number should increase to between 920,000 and more than a million per year, according to its research.

Would you like to sell your current property in favor of a larger one where your family could thrive? If so, these few pointers could prove helpful:

-- Look for highly motivated sellers.

The owners of upscale homes are no different from any other category of sellers: Some are a lot more driven to sell than others, says Dorcas Helfant, a real estate broker-owner and former president of the National Association of Realtors (realtor.org).

Some owners have no particular timeline pushing them out the door. Such “discretionary sellers” would like to liquidate but are willing to delay their plans in hopes of obtaining a better price later.

Conversely, motivated sellers have well-defined reasons for moving. Besides financial and health issues, there are positive reasons why some boomers seek to sell quickly. For example, the birth of a first grandchild can intensify their desire to move closer to their grown children.

As a move-up buyer, why should you care if the owners of a home you like are in a rush to sell? Because hurried sellers are much more likely to negotiate in earnest.

If you question sellers on their reasons for moving, many will give you or your agent candid answers to polite inquiries.

-- Don’t exclude from consideration homes that have gone “stale.”

On occasion genuinely motivated sellers hold out longer than they should, reducing their overly high list price only after becoming desperate.

“Even in premium neighborhoods, people who overshoot on price and then fail to sell for many months can be forced to drop their price below market value after buyer interest drops off,” Helfant says.

Their problem is that homes that linger too long on the market become stigmatized.

“It can take a while for some otherwise motivated homeowners to realize they’ve been asking way too much. But if you’re willing to wait, you might be rewarded for your patience,” Helfant says.

-- Consider communities where inventory is increasing.

Despite the likelihood of greater availability of property due to more boomer sales, there are still a number of tight markets where sellers continue to rule. As would-be trade-up buyers, you could do well to prioritize areas where For Sale properties are more abundant.

“You’ll do better if there’s a great deal of inventory, which translates to more competition for the sellers,” Helfant says.

-- Stay focused on your ultimate goal.

Among those hoping to take advantage of low mortgage rates to better their housing situation are parents with school-age kids who clamor for sleepovers and a large rec room where they can enjoy time with friends. Many move-up buyers also hanker for such luxury features as large gardens, at-home fitness centers and customized garages to house motorcycles or sports cars.

Striking a favorable financial deal is always a positive for buyers. But for many seeking to move to a larger habitat, acquiring the exact place they want -- whether that be a city loft, a suburban manse or a country estate -- obtaining the home of their dreams can be even more important.

“Remember, when you trade up, you’re buying for lifestyle. You’re looking for that perfect location, that perfect view or that perfect refuge from the world where you can find peace. For that reason, it’s more than just price alone that counts,” Helfant says.

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