I am interested in wholesaling in my neck of the woods in Dallas where we are seeing a lot of flipping activity.  I am an attorney and am familiar with real estate but I am not a real estate agent or broker.  I have read much here and on the net about techniques, but I don't see discussion about the essential business model for wholesaling, and what is the specific appeal to the seller is.

First off, it seems patently obviously that the majority of folks sell their house in the typical way: hire a real estate agent and list the house. I realize the target seller for the home wholesaler is one who is in some immediate distress, but it seems to me you still have to address the common believe that a good real estate will maximize return, and who doesn't want that, even in a distress situation? 

Am I wrong in thinking that the vast majority of sellers would intend to list their property with a real estate agent, and therefore the business proposition is that I as a wholesaler can maximize return in minimal time and a real estate agency can't. Seems a very difficult sale to make.