You don't need to be a building expert to be a knowledgeable and professional property agent. However, understanding how buildings work, recognising potential problems and knowing when to seek specialist advice can make all the difference to your clients.

This comprehensive 7-hour e-learning course takes you through eight modules covering the essential aspects of building pathology in French residential property.

Throughout the course, you will learn to:

• Understand the fundamentals of building construction, structural elements and common building terminology.

• Recognise signs of damp, moisture penetration and associated deterioration.

• Identify different types of cracks, structural movement and subsidence, and understand their potential significance.

• Recognise common timber defects, fungal decay, termites and other wood-boring insects.

• Understand ventilation, insulation and energy performance, including their impact on property condition.

• Navigate the Dossier de Diagnostic Technique (DDT), understand the principal mandatory property diagnostics and interpret key findings.

• Identify the different building professionals and experts involved in property transactions, understand their roles and know when to recommend specialist advice.

• Understand hidden defects (vices cachés), professional responsibilities and the importance of documenting observations and advice to reduce risk.

Through practical examples, realistic scenarios and interactive activities, you will develop the confidence to recognise warning signs, ask the right questions and communicate clearly with buyers and sellers.

The objective is not to turn you into a building surveyor, but to help you become a more informed, confident and professional property agent who knows where their responsibilities begin and end.