Even record revenue couldn't keep pace with fuel costs that soared 64 percent.

Chance to record revenue levels - its fee income last year hit 1.33 billion - but its reliance on banks left it vulnerable to the credit crunch.

The company unveiled record revenue of $250.6 million for 2018, a rise of 45 per cent from a year earlier.

This after its third consecutive year of record revenue and profits, with revenue growing 10 per cent to 380 million and pre-tax profit rising to 24 million, from 16 million.

The high-end estate agent said that its pre-tax profits rose 7 per cent to 50.4 million last year off record revenue of 721.5 million, up from 677 million in 2010.