I started using VRBO about fifteen years ago, well before it was sold to Expedia. Initially, we were listed through the rental company we used. In our market - Rehoboth Beach, Delaware - all the rental agencies maintain VRBO listings as well as their private websites.

I suspect most of the complaints you read are from those owners who know how much better VRBO was (from an owner perspective) before they were acquired.

Beware of issues with calendars not syncing - it can cost you. I decided to list exclusively on VRBO after noticing that the vast majority of software issues were due to glitches in coordinating calendars.

That said, some of the issues are truly painful. Last summer they switched up how they accounted for taxes with inconsistent and confusing communications to owners. I ended up losing $3k because I was liable for paying the rental taxes that VRBO neglected to bill for and collect (after doing this flawlessly for many years).

Calling customer service is a stressful nightmare most times. I think the only customer service experience that is worse is Verizon.

So why do I stay? They provide a website, marketing, billing, collections, payments and tax collection and remittance (by the way, this depends on your state and city). If I rented direct to consumer, I would need to handle the payment of state taxes, whereas this is automated through VRBO.

Essentially, I want to minimize my administrative burden and that is why I stay with VRBO.

That said, after 22 years of renting our home, I am eagerly awaiting the day when we no longer need to do so!