Basement: build new or use the existing one?

Hello everyone,

my wife and I would like to build, specifically a prefabricated house with a basement.
On the plot of land we want to buy, there is currently a house, which is dilapidated and therefore (by the owner of the plot) will be demolished.
It is a prefabricated house from the 1970s, which has a basement.
The solidly built basement has always been dry, the owner assures us. The dimensions are approximately 9x12m.
Now I don’t know: should I keep this basement, insulate it anew, and place the new house on it? Of course, this would somewhat limit the floor plan.
Or would you rather recommend demolishing the basement and building a new one? Maybe with precast reinforced concrete elements?
Groundwater should not be a problem, as the plot is located on a hill.

And one more question: can you roughly make statements about the costs?

Thanks already for your advice!

M.

Phew, basically I would recommend a new one if the house is already dilapidated. But if you think it is still OK, then definitely have it checked by the expert beforehand. Otherwise, it’s now like looking into a crystal ball, no one knows what condition it is in, what about thermal insulation or even load-bearing capacity and so on!

Although I cannot contribute to the "main question," I would like to point out that I

Groundwater would probably not be a problem, since the property is located on a hill.

now find that rather daring, if not unfounded. We had the same line of thought during the preliminary planning, but will soon build a waterproof concrete tank on a hill.