1. Build
a great payment history.
It goes without saying that paying
your bills on time is the key to a great credit rating.
2. Avoid unnecessary inquiries.
Each time a lender pulls your credit
record, an inquiry is recorded on your report. Each inquiry
can lower your score 5-15 points. Credit should not be pulled
more than 5 times per year.
3. Close
unneeded accounts.
The less available credit you
have, the less risk you will pose to a potential creditor or
lender. Allow for 2-4 credit cards for the best score. Close
all unused or unnecessary accounts.
4.
Keep your debt reasonable.
For a good credit
score, your account balances should be below 75% of the
available credit. For example, if you have a $2000 credit
limit, you should have a balance of $1500 or less.
5. Take
care of collection accounts.
Make sure collection accounts are
paid and listed as paid on your credit report. You may be
able to negotiate a reduced settlement with the collection
agency to get a debt paid, but there may be consequences.
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