My house was totaled in January by a tornado. We have finally settled with the insurance company and have paid off the mortgage. Instead of paying a contractor to come in and demolishing what little is left and then cleaning and clearing the lot, we have decided to just "give" the property to the contractor as is for him to do with as he wishes. What procedures must I follow? What type of deed? Who needs to record the transaction? Do we need a real estate lawyer to handle this?

...What procedures must I follow? What type of deed? Who needs to record the transaction? Do we need a real estate lawyer to handle this?

The proper procedures, including the type of deed and how to record it, should be left to an attorney in your jurisdiction. I suggest that you ask the contractor to pay the attorney and recording fees.

Are you sure you want to do this? Is the value of unimproved land in your locale so depressed that you would give it away? Why not hang onto it? I expect that the value will go back up fairly soon.