I screwed up, could use some advice.

[Tim Samples]

I tool over the keys of my first short term rental this week and posted it and got a 4 bookings which is great.  However I was careless and didnt fully understand the transition process and didn't realize the previous owner was going to be helpful.   The previous owner said he is calling airbnb Monday to transfer all the bookings which is significant and there will be some double booking.  What is the best way out of this without canceling those bookings since that will look bad on me starting out?  Yes...I know I deserve everything negative that happens to me on this one, but learned a lesson.  

[Collin Hays]

Quote from @Tim Samples:

I tool over the keys of my first short term rental this week and posted it and got a 4 bookings which is great.  However I was careless and didnt fully understand the transition process and didn't realize the previous owner was going to be helpful.   The previous owner said he is calling airbnb Monday to transfer all the bookings which is significant and there will be some double booking.  What is the best way out of this without canceling those bookings since that will look bad on me starting out?  Yes...I know I deserve everything negative that happens to me on this one, but learned a lesson.  

What you are experiencing is common during these transitions.  Just relax and focus on doing the right thing.

There are a couple of issues at work here:  One, while the previous owner is being gracious and helpful, it is best for those bookings to go away, primarily because those reservations are legally binding contracts between the previous owner and guests.  You are not a party to those contracts, and there are certain legal risks you assume by becoming a legal party. 

Now,  if you already have double bookings, you have no choice but to cancel conflicting bookings.  Forget your own consequences briefly and consider the guests:  Cancel the conflicting reservations asap so that vacationers have an opportunity to book elsewhere. If you keep the old reservations, I would, at a minimum, require them to sign a new reservation agreement whereby you are a legal party.  If the guests are unwilling, then all bets are off and I would cancel them.

From an ethical standpoint, cancel the most recent reservations.  Negative fallout will be minimal over the long term.