Pets can be a real distraction. And the house needs to smell good.
Fresh paint in a neutral color is where you get the most bang for your buck.
Sprucing up the front porch is pretty critical. New paint is good and placing urns of flowers around the door, if the season is appropriate.
When you're putting your house on the market, it's a product and you need to stage it as such. Staging it is making it appealing to a buyer.
These are all nice features when you're actually showing it. You want to create a cozy, inviting atmosphere.
A few personal photos are OK, but it's pretty hard for people to walk by a wedding picture without looking at it.