There was an item of news on the television about people saving money when selling their house by advertising it themselves rather than using estate agents.
When I bought my house I heard about it from the vicar at the time. It used to be a curate's house but Church House had decided to sell it. I had a look over the house, got in touch with Church House before they had been in touch with estate agents. Church House agreed to sell me the house and knocked off what they would have had to pay the estate agents against the cost.
When I and my brother sold our parents' house, it was a private sale to someone I had known for years. So no estate agents fees involved.
So I've never used estate agents and have benefited from the cost savings.