Wash the windows, clean, and paint. :)
Most of the shows we've seen didn't involve anything big as far as remodeling is concerned. Most folks just needed to get rid of some of their furniture so folks could get around, and some fresh paint.
I saw one today about a couple in Manhattan selling a 1BR 1 1/2 BA condo and were asking about $650 for it. They hadn't even cleaned the BATHROOM! The bath mat had mildew on the bottom of it that was just gross! The people who had been through it had remarked that it smelled bad, and was disgusting. There were clothes everywhere, and they hadn't even moved the garbage can out of the kitchen.
I don't know if the TV show folks tell them NOT to do any picking up so as to elicit the most negative comments from people, but I can't believe that anyone who is actually serious about selling their house would let anyone go through it in the condition some of these houses are in.