Qualifications
Donald W. Osborne possesses many years of business experience involving the evaluation and valuation of goods. These include partnership in Garofolo & Osborne Antiques since 1974, work as a Contributing Editor and Auction Analyst for Sports Car Market magazine and the purchase and sale of collector automobiles for consulting clients and his own collection.
He has evaluated, bought and priced for retail and dealer sale antique and fine furniture, decorative accessories and art for antique shops located in Canton, Connecticut as well as Lambertville, New Jersey in over 30 years of business, buying from dealers, auctions and private individuals throughout the US, Europe and Asia.
As a Contributing Editor of Sports Car Market magazine, Mr. Osborne regularly writes profiles on 'etceterini' and reports on auctions, writing on all types of automobiles from the turn of the century to contemporary across the US and Europe. He first contributed to Sports Car Market magazine in 1994 and began working as an Auction Analyst for Sports Car Market in August, 2000 with the submission of condition reports, evaluation and rating of post-war Italian cars at the RM Auctions Monterey sale. Sports Car Market is a magazine that covers the collector car market with an emphasis on auction reporting on an international scope.
In more than 35 years of collecting, he has bought and sold privately and at auction more than 50 automobiles, American, English, German, French and Italian- his particular weakness. Mr. Osborne regularly travels the country and Europe attending auctions, rallies and other car events for both business and pleasure. He maintains a library of automotive reference books and collector car magazines from England, Italy, France and the US to assist in the research and evaluation of cars for purchase and restoration. The experience in and exposure to the collector car auction market gained through his affiliation with Sports Car Market has greatly widened his knowledge of pricing and market trends.
Mr. Osborne's writing on collector cars has also appeared in The New York Times, BusinessWeek Online, Hagerty's magazine, Road & Track, Art & Antiques and in the books "Keith Martin on Collecting Alfa Romeo" and "Keith Martin's Guide to Car Collecting", published by Motorbooks International. He is also editor of Lanciana, the magazine of the American Lancia Club.
Mr. Osborne is a member of the Vintage Sports Car Club of America, Alfa Romeo Owner's Club, American Lancia Club, Ferrari Club of America, Lamborghini Club of America and Great Autos of Yesteryear. He has also served as a Consultant Director, judge and Master of Ceremonies with the Fairfield County Concours d'Elegance, a judge at the Radnor Hunt Concours d'Elegance in Pennsylvania and the Meadow Brook Concours d'Elegance in Michigan, On-field Commentator at Meadow Brook, Master of Ceremonies at Le Belle Macchine d'Italia in Pennsylvania and Co-Master of Ceremonies at the Dana Point Concours d'Elegance in California.
Mr. Osborne offers consulting services to collectors and major collector car businesses across the country. A Candidate Member of the American Society of Appraisers, Mr. Osborne founded Automotive Valuation Services in 2004 and has since valued many millions of dollars worth of collector automobiles.
An operatic baritone whose solo career culminated in his debut with the Metropolitan Opera in 1985, he has turned to the drama of the collector car field to express his creative passions. Mr. Osborne lives in central Connecticut and southern California.
About ASA
The American Society of Appraisers is an organization of appraisal professionals and others interested in the appraisal profession. International in structure, it is self-supporting and independent. The oldest and only major appraisal organization representing all of the disciplines of appraisal specialists, the society originated in 1936 and incorporated in 1952. ASA's headquarters is in the metropolitan Washington, D.C., area.
The society is dedicated to the benefit of the appraisal profession. It is one of eight major appraisal societies that, in 1987, founded The Appraisal Foundation, a national nonprofit organization created to establish uniform criteria for professional appraisers. Since 1989 The Appraisal Foundation has been recognized by the U.S. Congress as the source for the development and promulgation of appraisal standards and qualifications.
When you hire an ASA-accredited appraiser, you are assured the best valuation expertise on the market, because ASA-accredited appraisers bring knowledge of the market and profession, experience, and solid reputation to the job.
Knowledge and Experience
Each accredited member of the American Society of Appraisers has earned a professional designation in one or more specialized areas of appraisal. To receive the accreditation, the appraiser must pass intensive courses/written examinations, submit representative appraisal reports, an appraisal experience log and evidence of a college degree or its equivalent.
Every accredited appraiser must start his or her ASA membership as a Candidate member. In order to be accepted for Candidate membership, the prospective Candidate must be interviewed and approved by his or her local chapter. Subsequently, each Candidate must pass ASA's Ethics Examination and an examination on the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) within a specified period of time. (The Uniform Standards are published each year by The Appraisal Foundation, authorized by Congress as the source of appraisal standards and appraiser qualifications.)
The Candidate's technical appraisal proficiency and understanding of the fundamentals of appraisal ethics, principles and concepts are evaluated by intensive written examinations. Copies of the Candidate's appraisal reports are reviewed and must meet professional criteria.
ASA has a mandatory reaccredidation process whereby designated members must regularly submit evidence of professional growth through participation in professional activities and continuing education. This ensures that ASA appraisers keep their knowledge up-to-date.
A Solid Reputation
Each individual seeking accreditation from the American Society of Appraisers must furnish professional and personal references and be subject to local credit and background investigations. In addition, local chapters conduct personal interviews and evaluate the practices of all applicants.
One of ASA's primary objectives is to ensure ethical practices and procedures on the part of its members. The society is diligent in its efforts to strengthen and uphold the Principles of Appraisal Practice and Code of Ethics (the code of conduct to which all members must subscribe) in order to protect the client.
ASA has developed a mechanism for the enforcement of the Code of Ethics whereby clients may file written complaints directly with the International Headquarters of the American Society of Appraisers if they feel that an appraisal rendered by an ASA member violates sound professional practice. ASA has permanent internal procedures for processing all documented grievances, assuring due process. Sanctions against members, if found to be in violation of the Code of Ethics, range from censure to expulsion with loss of professional designation.
The Valuation Expertise You Need
In short, ASA-accredited appraisers are experts. The meticulous ASA accreditation process ensures that ASA-accredited appraisers are accurate, impartial, and credible. They are educated and experienced in their fields and are respected members of their communities. They can deliver independent valuations that assure your property is appraised at its fair market value.
