Over 245 years combined experience in all facets of real estate puts RE/MAX Coastal at the forefront of the Garden Route property business
The history of RE/MAX Coastal
The holding company was established in 1995, when Schalk van der Merwe opened the original RE/MAX Coastal branch in Knysna. Schalk’s son Chris joined the business in 2001 and the father and son team managed RE/MAX Coastal together until Schalk’s passing in May 2024. Chris has steered the business to success upon success ever since.
RE/MAX Coastal became a multi-office operation in 2024, incorporating branches in Knysna, Sedgefield, Wilderness and, since 2025, Mossel Bay. Chris now manages this dedicated team (link to The Team) of nearly 40 highly qualified property practitioners. And each of them works together to make your real estate experience an enjoyable occasion.
How it all began
Qualifying as a project manager from the University of Cape Town, Schalk joined the KwaZulu Finance and Investment Corporation where he spearheaded downtown developments in KwaZulu Natal for 20 years. He moved to Gauteng in 1985, where he was appointed as the Head of Projects for NBS DEVCO. In this capacity, Schalk developed over 5 000 housing units in residential estates throughout Gauteng. He finally settled in Knysna in 1995 and opened RE/MAX Coastal.
More about Chris
Having joined the family business in 2001, Chris is a true veteran of the real estate industry. He studied B Com Accounting at the University of Pretoria, B Compt through Unisa and Production Management at PMI of SA. Chris worked as Operational Manager at Bridor SA and as Sanitation and Environmental Manager for the Kellogg Group of Companies SA in Gauteng before joining Schalk at RE/MAX Coastal. His motto underlines how he approaches all aspects of life – absque sudore et labore nullum opus perfectum est (without sweat and toil no work is made perfect).
Testament to his commitment to service excellence and customer satisfaction, Chris has achieved numerous industry awards:
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RE/MAX Coastal achievements
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