Whenever housebuilders meet nowadays, they can be seen staring intently at one another and muttering, "this is going to be an interesting year". Never ones to talk down business, what they are really saying is: life is pretty damn difficult. The industry is facing more demands than ever before, with the Council of Mortgage Lenders rule on home completion, a jittery marketplace, and the high government expectations of the communities plan.

The new-look Homes will be setting out the challenges and providing the essential information you need to produce solutions. There is more data, more coverage of the issues that matter and more technical guidance.

This issue also marks the launch of the third annual ºÃÉ«ÏÈÉúTV Homes Quality Awards, which includes two new categories, for best use of IT and new homes agents. If you are not only meeting today's challenges, but doing so with skill, innovation and business flair, then enter the awards now.

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