You will find more items when searching with higher Perception.
Higher Appearance makes the Tease command better. It also have influence on your Max Libido.
About the relationship. There's not much about it yet, no matter the gender. Love Potion can be used only as a male, but I intend to change it. Bernard is the only romance option that will be available in the next patch and it'll working for both male and female. And it's still going to be the first step in the romance.