Hello Brian,
Saving funds sounds a reasonable reason for posting on here, and I'm sure advice will be given where experience has shown that a DIY fix has proved practical.
Local garage may be worth a visit, but I meant a local car sales site (unless your local garage sells cars as well). Reason being is that car sales survive by ensuring money spent on vehicles is kept to a minimum and so they build up a knowledge of where the best value for money specialists are. Local garage - well they can work on the principle that the customer pays, and their contacts can be more along the line of who can do it quickly and easily, but not necessarily at the best price.
I hope you have some succes at a minimum spend Brian, but if not, keep in mind that little discussion you had with the seller in terms of knocking money off their asking price! Needs might just be must.
Kind regards,
Gareth.