About us
Perfect Hideaways Real Estate was founded in 2015 by David Untiedt for discerning buyers looking to invest in their own dream hideaway. This boutique real estate agency is a natural offshoot of Perfect Hideaways – the multiple-award-winning holiday rental company he and his wife, Helen Untiedt, co-founded in 2005.
They’ve always made it their mission to find the most beautiful hideaways imaginable to share with those who want to ‘escape the ordinary’. The Perfect Hideaways journey has been about identifying precisely what it is that makes a home ‘perfect’. From architecturally striking city villas to quaint lagoonside cottages in the tucked-away village of Churchhaven to rambling stone farmhouses with deep stoeps in the vast landscapes of the Great Karoo or beautiful beach houses where you can watch whales from your bed… or blissful bush lodges and off-grid cabins where nature and wildlife are part of the fabric of life.
In the process of personally selecting each of these hideaways, the Untiedts developed rich relationships with their owners. “It was a natural progression to help the owners of these rental homes buy and sell their properties,” says David. A lucky thing, as many of these beautiful homes, lodges and farms for sale are hard to come by unless you have access to this discreet word-of-mouth network.
“Southern Africa offers a lifestyle that is difficult to replicate overseas and certainly impossible to recreate at the same cost”
Each property in the Perfect Hideaways Real Estate portfolio is carefully vetted for the signature ‘Perfect Hideaways’ style and taste that resonates so deeply with buyers and sellers. These extraordinary properties are often unearthed only after exploring the road less travelled, down sandy tracks up the coast and craggy mountains, and deep into the bush.
And this is where David is at his best – he likes nothing better than exploring and the challenge of searching out the finest treasures in the wide blue yonder. He and his Perfect Hideaways team spend a large part of the year personally scouting new locations and out-of-the-box havens they know their market will love.
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So, what drives the vision?
“Helen and I were sailors in our youth. We loved the freedom of being out in the wide open world. The air is fresh and clear, the stars are bright and you have space and freedom. The stresses of life simply dissolve away when you arrive in a remote location, listen to the cicadas chirping in the bush and soak in the long views of distant mountains.”
Based on their freewheeling journeys, David has always insisted on the key principle that underpins Perfect Hideaways: every property in their portfolio absolutely must evoke a heartfelt sense of connection and have something out of the ordinary. These are places with a soul – that special something that tugs at your heartstrings and connects with your emotions.
Unearthing soulful escapes
It’s this personal touch that defines the company ethos. Take, for example, Perfect Hideaways’ pioneering listings of Mozambique properties for sale.
“When our kids were still small, many owners in Mozambique approached us to help them rent and sell their properties. So we packed the kids into the 4×4 and regularly set off on an adventure, driving all the way from Cape Town to Mozambique.
“It would take three or four days to get there as we road-tripped back and forth across this beautiful country. Of course, if you’ve ever been to Mozambique by car, you’ll know it’s not for the faint-hearted. Getting through the border post, for starters, can be a wild and tumultuous experience, never mind the condition of the roads… along with the surprise appearance of cows, goats or even cashew-nut vendors along the way.
“But then we’d get to our destination, a gloriously comfortable, elegantly furnished designer villa… paradise! The villas in Mozambique, mostly owned by foreigners, are absolutely gorgeous. It’s lush, subtropical and largely undeveloped. We especially love Vilanculos, the Sanctuary (a private reserve) and the islands of the Bazaruto Archipelago. It’s like Langebaan lagoon on steroids.”
Naturally curated
David explains: “Especially dear to my heart are West Coast hamlets, where life comes to a standstill as the fishing boat comes to the beach with the day’s catch. Those quaint West Coast cottages of no more than 140m² seem to be all that’s required to support life and insulate against the blazing summer sun or the chill of the creeping fog. Finding authentic and soulful properties and land for sale is always satisfying.”
Not every property fits the Perfect Hideaway vision. “It’s important to us that we stay true to the brand and ensure that the properties we list fit our strong brand ethos. It takes a lot of hard work, research and in-person travel to vet the properties that are offered to us,” explains David.
“I think people understand what we are offering and the ethos we adhere resonates with them. We welcome new properties, and we get many properties offered to us, but we never let go of our essence. We have a good reputation in the market and this, largely, draws the right opportunities to the company. A property listed with Perfect Hideaways has a status that differentiates it from the rest and is held up like a jewel in the light,” says David.
Is it all about lifestyle?
David is confidently bullish in southern Africa as an investment destination. “South Africa offers a lifestyle that is difficult to replicate overseas and certainly impossible to recreate at the same cost,” he explains.
“The Western Cape offers a well-run province with spectacular scenery, oodles of space and miles of coastline. Cape Town is constantly being voted as one of the best cities in the world to visit, not only for its beaches and dramatic setting under the iconic Table Mountain, but also for its lifestyle. Guests are constantly awed by exceptional food and superb wines, not to mention luxury accommodation at a fraction of the cost elsewhere in the world.
“Compared to the UK and Europe, I think one of the key aspects here is authenticity, the lack of pretentiousness, the genuine warmth of the people, and their exuberance and enjoyment of life’s simple things. Many of our clients spend a lot of time here each year, or even move to the Western Cape from places like Marbella and the Hamptons to experience this authenticity and our wholesome lifestyle.”
What makes a hideaway perfect?
Perfect Hideaways Real Estate will never shy away from marketing weird and wonderful properties – with the emphasis on wonderful, of course! Take for example, Houseboat Uno. “Here was an opportunity to have holiday accommodation on the water, right in the V&A Waterfront, while rubbing shoulders with guests from the Cape Grace and the One & Only.
“We’ve also marketed everything from a cob house in the Karoo to a futuristic beach house in Rooi Els and a Cape Dutch-style home and plots in Constantia – a mere 30 minutes from the heart of Cape Town and the international airport. We list many boutique hotels and guesthouses that fit our ethos, as well as shared ownership in safari lodges.”
But it’s the ability to make a difference that keeps David coming back for more, especially when it comes to the dream of creating a conservation corridor along the beautiful Cape West Coast.
It’s clear that delighting in spectacular locations – properties that honour and celebrate their environment – is in the very DNA of Perfect Hideaways Real Estate. No wonder they’re known for places with a special soul, where buyers step into the lifestyle that they have been dreaming of.
A BESPOKE NETWORK
We connect!
CAREFULLY CURATED
We select!
We handpick delightful properties in unusual, quaint or highly desirable locations – and each one must have ‘soul’ to crack the nod! Some of them are hard to come by if you don’t have access to our word-of-mouth network!
TAILORED SERVICE
We care!
We pride ourselves on being accessible and responsive, giving individual attention and helping you to navigate the sales process with ease. We focus on details. We assess investment potential. And we embrace the lifestyle.
A BESPOKE NETWORK
We connect!
We match your property to discerning buyers. Many of the properties we offer for sale are from our Perfect Hideaways rental portfolio, and many of our buyers are guests seeking to buy their own hideaway.
CAREFULLY CURATED
We select!
We handpick delightful properties in unusual, quaint or highly desirable locations – and each one must have ‘soul’ to crack the nod! Some of them are hard to come by if you don’t have access to our word-of-mouth network!
TAILORED SERVICE
We care!
We pride ourselves on being accessible and responsive, giving individual attention and helping you to navigate the sales process with ease. We focus on details. We assess investment potential. And we embrace the lifestyle.
Let us find your perfect property
Our experienced real estate consultants are dedicated to helping you find the ideal property! They take the time to understand your specific needs and preferences, ensuring they match you with the perfect home or investment opportunity that aligns with your goals. They’ll also introduce you to any hideaways in our behind-the-scenes portfolio of private listings that meet your requirements. This is a discreet collection of fabulous properties for sale by personal introduction only.
Our team
Warm, wise and wonderfully well-travelled – our team of real-estate agents brings more than just experience to the table. They speak several languages, know the rhythms of the places they represent and share an instinctive understanding of the Perfect Hideaways’ way of life. Thoughtful, intuitive and deeply connected, they’re with you at every step – from the first dream to the final signature.
And behind those warm smiles? A team of creatives, storytellers, designers and detail-lovers. Every hideaway we represent is brought to life with world-class photography, elegant design, beautifully written narratives, expert marketing and seamless administration – all working together to capture the soul of each space.
List your property
We look for homes and properties with soul – places of beauty, character and charm, in remarkable settings or thoughtfully designed.
