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.
A few personal photos are OK, but it's pretty hard for people to walk by a wedding picture without looking at it.
Fresh paint in a neutral color is where you get the most bang for your buck.
These are all nice features when you're actually showing it. You want to create a cozy, inviting atmosphere.
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.
Pets can be a real distraction. And the house needs to smell good.