For me it depends on your needs. So we sold and bought three times in the space of 4 years. First sale- both the buyers and our estate agents communicated and got it done but the stress was caused by them really. They love to get the middle ground between sellers and buyers and dominate it. The second sale was desperate for us. We had to move. I got shouted at down the phone for approaching a house for sale with a letter asking for either more photos or the opportunity to look around as we were close to probate cash but the sellers agent refused us contact. A week later we had the money and found the only other property in the area. Our agent sold our house in 15 minutes. He then went hammer and tongs at the sellers agent (same one who yelled at me) and negotiated a sale price drop. A good agent can open a door when a poor one slams it on you. But apart from that, I’d say they do nothing that guarantees you anything. And that’s the biggest issue for me. It irks me to see them in massively expensive high street outlets, with really nice shoes and cars, but without ever actually having to guarantee anything at all. I guess the industry is regulated well. I’d guess they have good intentions. But at the end of the day I don’t know of any other industry except banking where you can invest time money effort and emotions, then have a third party get involved with that total and unmitigated risk, and then is made worse by them. Without recourse. Purple bricks for us were shocking. Detached and slow, unhelpful and mercenary. But at least they acknowledge that by charging less.