On a slightly different angle I have twice bought houses privately and successfully. This was because I couldn't find anything suitable so I placed wanted adverts and pushed flyers through letter boxes on suitable houses. Tried it a third time and agreed a sale with the owner but after which he decided to get an agent in to value and who said he had agreed to sell far too cheaply. The owner said he would no longer deal direct as he had agreed to let the agent handle at a higher selling price. The agent seemed to do anything he could to avoid dealing with me as the owner admitted the agreement he had signed, with the agent, was usual commission but if I did buy it would be half commission. So agent was being very greedy.
Ken