Handshake Agreement - Does it carry any weight?

Handshake Agreement - Does it carry any weight?

In this hypothetical scenario, you and another party have reached a meeting of the minds. Is it enough to shake hands and say you agree?  Well, according to a NAR survey, which I was unable to find, but I'm told exists, that depends on whether you're a man or woman. 

Findings show that a woman who shakes hands over a transaction but later changes her mind, suffers no disquiet whatsoever, in apparent contrast to the reaction from men.

This phenomenon was demonstrated in a training session I attended and taught by a motivational speaker. I was the first female in the room asked how I would feel under the above-described circumstances and the only one to respond, "it would kill me." I was amazed to learn that this is considered an unusual response. Apparently, many women see nothing wrong with changing their minds after a handshake, even when this amounts to essentially killing the deal. The instructor suggested I may have adopted this sensibility if I were raised in a predominantly male household (I wasn't). I have no comprehension as to why I think the way I do. However, I did get a good laugh when, several days later, this hypothetical situation became real.

I was holding an open house when two unaccompanied female investors came in to look. They became so excited about the property, they immediately started discussing the price. They initiated a handshake, gave me their agent's card (a family member, not present, but that's another post) and assured me several times the agent would be in touch the next day. When I didn't hear from the agent, as promised, I called him to check on whether an offer was forthcoming. He said he thought the ladies had changed their minds and that was the last I heard from any of them.

The timing of this situation was perfect. I would not have believed the survey results otherwise. Coming so close on the heels of our instructional example, I learned firsthand that there is, indeed, a gender difference in the weight of a handshake agreement.