You have been viewing houses for a while and have just stumbled across one that you love. It has everything on your tick list - three bedrooms, a garden, and it's in a nice neighborhood. Before you make an offer, however, there is one other thing that you need to consider - whether it's affordable to run.

The house that you buy needs to be affordable. Otherwise, there is no point in even considering it. When it comes to working out whether a property is within your budget, most of us have no idea where to start.

To help you ensure that your potential new property is cost efficient to run, here are a few tips that you might find useful:

Ask your realtor about energy efficiency

Before you consider signing on the dotted line, make sure to discuss the property’s energy efficiency. All good realtors should have facts to show you about the property’s energy usage. So don't be afraid to ask about these.

Find out what features the house has that make it energy efficient. Does it have double or triple-glazed windows? Is the boiler modern - newer designs tend to be a lot more energy efficient than older models, so it’s worth asking. Is the property well insulated? Ask whether there is roof and wall cavity insulation, or just one of the two.

Google the utility providers in the area

If you are happy with how energy efficient the property is, the next step is to go online and look at the local utility providers. Find out which companies offer energy, water, and television and internet services. Some providers are more expensive than others, so it’s important to know which companies you will be able to use.

Research all of the cheapest suppliers, so that you know who the best companies to go with are. Look out for providers who offer lower prices, as these can be all that you need to make the property affordable.

Opt for companies that don’t use paper, as they often have much lower rates. To find out more about this, have a look at http://www.clickenergy.com.au/. Paperless companies have lower rates because they charge for paper billing, so are worth considering.

Get quotes for bills

You might not have moved in yet, but you can still get quotes for bills. Get in touch with the providers with the lowest rates and ask for a quote for the property. This will give you an idea of how much you can expect to be paying each month.

Getting quotes for each bill will give you an idea of whether the house would be within your budget, or whether it would be too expensive to run. Finding this out before you buy is important. Otherwise, you could end up getting into a mess with your finances.

To make sure that your potential new home will be affordable to run, all you need to do is follow the useful tips above. Ask about energy efficiency, research local companies, get quotes, and you can decide whether the property is right for you.