<p>Explore Living, the housing arm of Laing O’Rourke, scooped the Housebuilding innovator of the year award in the small to medium sized category for its imagination and the unexpected touches it brings to its schemes. Its marketing strategy for Quest Place in Essex also won it the Best marketing crown – the company used iPods, sound systems and touch screens to market Quest Place and brought the home searching experience to life for potential buyers. Explore also struck a deal with the nearby Quest Motors allowing it to offer prospective home owners not only a home but a Saab 9-3 for free. </p> <p>“When the Explore Living brand was launched, one of our core values was to consistently produce an innovative product and service,” comments sales and marketing director John Inglis. “Given the composition of the judging panel for the Housebuilding Awards that comprise some of the most influential individuals in the industry, what better accolade could we strive for? “Innovation is one of the primary ways in which you can set yourself apart from your competition and it drives new product development and markets forward,” he continues. “For that reason we would recommend those with an innovative product or …