Financing purchase project single-family house 580TE before upcoming parental leave

Especially since the basement is partly "damp" (which according to the architect is not bad, but the smell remains)

You have assessed that correctly. What good is it to you if technically the moisture in the basement is not a problem, but at the same time you cannot use the basement as storage or living space because everything stored there for more than a few days immediately smells. This would make the entire basement practically unusable except as a utility room. In my case, the architect would be gone immediately. I have nothing to do with an expert whose level of assessment already does not match; that means you are talking past each other in terms of expectations from the start. Such a thing only leads to stress. In my opinion, it also does not work when assessing what needs to be renovated and what does not, or what should be done so that later, when occupied, it does not require increased effort. Therefore, keep your eyes open, continue to trust your gut feeling, and keep searching. Good luck.

Why should that be a disqualifying criterion? A good architect also presents options and doesn't just talk like a courtier. What the client makes of it is his business - in this case, the decision was made against the house.

Why should that be an exclusion criterion? A good architect also presents options and does not just talk like a courtier. What the client makes of it is their business – here the decision was made against the house.

Speaking plainly is something different than downplaying moisture in the basement and taking only the construction-technical perspective as an advising person. I expect more from that person. That means thinking around the corner, in my opinion. How do I want to use the rooms in the future and what else might come, etc.

Basements partly "damp" are common in many old buildings, without it being a problem. You just can’t store everything in the basement, but for example, wine, fruit, and vegetables very well. That is what most basements were built for until the 1970s. Not to set up a guest room, hobby basement, or storage for tax documents there. We do not know exactly what is meant by this and whether the interested party had hoped for a living basement.

Therefore, I do not understand why such an indirectly quoted statement has to be pushed up to a deal-breaker.

You can't store everything in the basement, but for example very well wine, fruit, and vegetables. Most basements were built for that purpose until the 1970s. Not to set up a guest room, a hobby basement, and storage for tax documents there. We don't know exactly what is meant by that and whether the interested party had hoped for a living basement.

Yes, okay, you're right, maybe I'm projecting my expectations onto the expert and the building. For 700k€, for example, I want to use everything fully and not live according to user behavior from 50-70 years ago.