7FF 809: Close More Deals by Understanding This One Seller Behavior

August 5, 2025

About This Episode

Most investors blame price on losing the deal.

But what if the seller never intended to say yes in the first place?

Because distressed sellers don’t act logically.

Sellers in distress behave a lot like people battling addiction.

That’s why Dr. Sheri Fluellen (a psychologist + investor) uses a framework from addiction recovery…

…to help sellers make clear, confident decisions.

And if you’re wondering how to take sellers from “not ready” to “let’s do it”...

Here’s how to meet them where they’re at and start turning conversations into contracts!

Want more sellers to open up and actually say yes?

And If your close rate frankly sucks…

You don’t just need a new script.

You need a new approach.

Sales Director at Blackjack Real Estate, Lindsay Arko, developed our Intuitive Sales process designed to work with a seller’s psychology, not against it.

It’s the same system our top members are now using to turn hard conversations into signed contracts.

It’s so simple even your VA could do it.

CLICK HERE to Book an Implementation Call >>

We’ll show you how you can apply the same process in your market.

Catch you later!

Episode Transcript

Key Takeaways: Understanding Seller Psychology to Close More Deals

Most sellers don’t make decisions logically—they react emotionally, especially in foreclosure or distress.
The “5 Stages of Change” model helps investors understand where a seller is in their decision-making journey.
Sales success hinges on asking better questions—not pitching faster offers.
Knowing how to identify and respond to seller hesitation can prevent cancellations and build trust.
Affirming sellers post-agreement reduces fallout and boosts referrals.

“You’re not closing the deal—they’re closing the door on a chapter of their life. Help them feel safe doing it.”

“Sales is change. If you don’t understand where a seller is emotionally, your offer won’t land.”

Transcript: Close More Deals by Understanding This One Seller Behavior

Click to expand full transcript

[00:00] Adam Whitney: Welcome back to the 7 Figure Flipping Podcast. This is The Bottom Line—where real stories meet real numbers. Today we’re diving into one psychological principle that’s helped investors close more seller deals—without lowering their offer.

[01:40] Sheri Fluellen: We're talking about the psychology of sales—and the big epiphany I had about why experienced salespeople sometimes struggle when shifting into direct-to-seller investing.

[05:42] Adam Whitney: This is key—sales is really about getting someone to embrace change. But people don’t make decisions logically—they make them emotionally, especially in distress situations like foreclosure.

[08:00] Sheri Fluellen: I introduced the Transtheoretical Model of Behavior Change. It’s a research-backed framework used in addiction and medicine—and it applies directly to how sellers make decisions. There are 5 stages: Pre-contemplation, Contemplation, Preparation, Action, and Maintenance.

[13:01] Adam Whitney: Real-life example—we offered a seller $50K to avoid foreclosure. He refused, holding out for $100K. He ended up with $0. That’s not logic—it’s fear, denial, and avoidance.

[21:00] Sheri Fluellen: Most investors lose deals by selling to someone still in “contemplation.” They're not sold on change yet—so they resist. You’ve got to slow down, ask better questions, and meet them where they are emotionally.

[27:00] Sheri Fluellen: One seller canceled our meeting last minute. My husband was frustrated. I called her, calmly asked, “What else might get in the way?” Turns out it was a mobile home setup delay. We gave her options—and re-established trust.

[33:00] Sheri Fluellen: In the action phase, the deal is in motion. But sellers still need reassurance. That’s where you affirm their courage, reinforce why they made the decision, and keep their vision in front of them.

[38:00] Sheri Fluellen: Post-sale, in the “maintenance” phase—send a card, a text, a thank you. Cement the experience as positive. It leads to referrals, reviews, and peace of mind for both sides.

[43:00] Adam Whitney: Here are a few go-to questions to help move sellers forward:

“What about our letter/postcard made you call?”
“What came up recently that made you consider selling now?”
“What happens if this doesn’t get resolved in 3 months?”
“If we helped solve this, what concerns would you still have?”

[50:00] Adam Whitney: Sales is service. We’re helping people solve real life problems, not just buying houses. Understanding these five stages is a game changer for closing more deals and helping more people.

Free Resources / Downloads

5F Framework

A business framework that creates consistency within your flipping business by giving you a tested roadmap to building real estate wealth.
5 Proven Steps to Build Active and Passive Income in Real Estate (FREE!)

Freedom Number Calculator

The 2-Minute Exercise That Shows You Exactly How to Build Toward Your Life of Freedom.This quick (and powerful) quiz will help you calculate exactly how many deals you need to support your ideal lifestyle and how close you already are. Most investors don’t fail from lack of effort, they fail from lack of direction. No guesswork. No fluff. Just a clear target—and a plan to make it real.

Adam Whitney’s Seller Call Script

Use the same script Adam uses while on the phone with sellers

Off-Market Deals on Demand

Get the UltimateOFF-MARKET DEALS Starter Pack...For FREE! Niche lists, seller strategies, a hyper-local market tracker, and a bonus!

Grow Your House Flipping / Wholesaling Business WITHOUT Guesswork or Trial-and-Error

Find out EXACTLY what you need to be working on TODAY to do more deals, make more money, and free up your time.

Explore More Episodes...

7FF 797: The Contractor Problem No One Talks About (But Everyone Deals With)

June 19, 2025

Dr. Sheri showed up to her flip, and the contractor had cleared the crew and sprayed Febreze. She thought he was being “thoughtful.” This episode breaks down how subtle dynamics like this can undermine your authority… and how to handle it without losing control of the project.

Full Episode >

7FF 796: She’s 17 and Plans to Retire at 30

June 17, 2025

A reluctant teen forced into a money workshop made over $10K and plans to retire by 30.This episode shows how Teenage Tycoon turns eye-rolls into equity.

Full Episode >

7FF: 795 This Is What Happens When You Follow Up 521 Times

June 12, 2025

Adam Whitney breaks down the exact follow-up system that turned a “not interested” lead into a $90,000 wholesale deal. If you’re leaking deals from your pipeline, this will flip how you think about follow-up.

Full Episode >

7FF 974: The $80,000 Contractor Mistake I'll Never Make Again

June 10, 2025

In this episode, Adam Whitney breaks down how real estate investors are using AI to streamline operations, close more deals, and avoid costly mistakes. But the real shift comes from upgrading the room you’re in, and the mindset that’s holding you back.

Full Episode >

7FF 793: How Tom Bell Made Money on His First Flip (And What Almost Killed the Deal)

June 5, 2025

Tom Bell, a retired Marine and 7 Figure Runway member, shares his first profitable flip, the mistakes he won’t repeat, and how he’s shifting from DIY to real business owner.

Full Episode >

7FF 792: What Broke in Our Business (and How We Solved It)

June 3, 2025

In the kickoff episode of The Bottom Line, Adam Whitney and Dr. Sheri Fluellen expose the hidden bottlenecks that silently stall real estate growth and share the mindset shift that helped them break through. It’s raw, tactical, and built around questions real investors are asking.

Full Episode >

Ready to Build a Business That Finally Works?

Ready to find your tribe?

Don’t stay stuck in chaos or settle for another year of inconsistency. Join a serious community of operators who are building businesses that matter. This is your moment.

‍Click below and we’ll help you determine which program is the best fit for you.

APPLY HERE

7FF 809: Close More Deals by Understanding This One Seller Behavior

About This Episode

Free Resources / Downloads

5F Framework

Freedom Number Calculator

Adam Whitney’s Seller Call Script

Off-Market Deals on Demand

Grow Your House Flipping / Wholesaling Business WITHOUT Guesswork or Trial-and-Error

Explore More Episodes...

7FF 797: The Contractor Problem No One Talks About (But Everyone Deals With)

7FF 796: She’s 17 and Plans to Retire at 30

7FF: 795 This Is What Happens When You Follow Up 521 Times

7FF 974: The $80,000 Contractor Mistake I'll Never Make Again

7FF 793: How Tom Bell Made Money on His First Flip (And What Almost Killed the Deal)

7FF 792: What Broke in Our Business (and How We Solved It)

Ready to Build a Business That Finally Works?

Ready to find your tribe?

Dig Deeper

Quick Links

Join Us