Getting your listing video onto the MLS seems straightforward until you discover that RealTracs and Tennessee Realtors have specific guidelines governing how video can be used, what content is permitted, and how links can be submitted. Here's a practical guide to getting it right.
RealTracs Video Policy Overview
RealTracs, the primary MLS serving Middle Tennessee, allows video to be added to listings as an external link or embedded tour. The platform has fields for a virtual tour URL, which can be used for listing videos hosted on YouTube, Vimeo, or your own hosting. The key rules:
- Video must be of the listed property only — no branding, testimonials, or agent promotion visible in the video
- No contact information (phone numbers, emails, agent names, brokerage names) in the video itself
- No text overlays that function as advertising rather than property information
- The video must accurately represent the current condition of the property
Video vs. Virtual Tour
RealTracs distinguishes between a listing video (a cinematic walkthrough or aerial overview) and a virtual tour (typically a 360-degree interactive experience). Both can be submitted, and having both maximizes your listing's exposure. Film My Listing produces listing video; virtual tour capture (like Matterport) is a separate service.
Hosting Your Video
YouTube is the most common and compatible hosting platform for MLS video links. When uploading to YouTube for MLS use, set the video to Unlisted (not Public) if you want to control where it's shared, or Public if you want the full SEO benefit of YouTube indexing. The video URL from YouTube can be pasted directly into the RealTracs virtual tour field.
Vimeo is a cleaner player experience (no pre-roll ads) and works equally well for MLS linking. For maximum buyer experience, we recommend Vimeo for MLS submission and YouTube for social sharing — use both with the same video file.
What to Put in the Virtual Tour Field
Paste the direct URL of your hosted video. RealTracs will display this as a link labeled 'Virtual Tour' on the listing. Syndicated sites including Zillow, Realtor.com, and Homes.com will pick up this link and display the video on their platforms as well, dramatically expanding the video's reach beyond MLS.
When to Add the Video
Best practice is to have the video ready to upload the same day the listing goes live. Listings gain significant algorithmic momentum in the first 24 to 48 hours on market — adding video later means missing the highest-traffic window. Coordinate your video shoot 3 to 5 days before your planned listing launch date to ensure delivery before go-live.
Film My Listing delivers edited video within 24 to 48 hours of the shoot. Book your shoot with enough lead time and your video will be ready when the listing launches.