One time on classic muscle car I wanted badly I hired a Southern California dealer/appraiser listed in Hemmings magazine. Cost me $250 on a car with a $12,000 price tag. The inspection came back fine. Unfortunately, the seller 'changed' their mind and upped the price to $14,000 and told me I had another buyer competing with me. For all I know it was that "appraiser." Decided not to pursue the vehicle further. Lost the $250 fee. Never again. The few times I've had so called "knowledgeable" people look at items for me....it was never the same as me looking at it. And in most cases they "missed" things. In the end, such transactions are only as good as people's word, ethics, and knowledge.
