When you check your credit score, you’ll find that it sits somewhere between 300 and 850. The higher that your credit score is, the better.
As of right now, the average credit score in the U.S. sits at about 695. That’s an all-time high for the country, but believe it or not, 695 wouldn’t really be considered an ideal credit score.
In order to have “good” credit, a person needs to have a credit score over 700. And in order to have “excellent” credit, their credit score must exceed 800.
For some people, the idea of having a credit score that sits in the 700 to 850 range is a pipe dream. They can’t imagine taking a look at their credit report and seeing a credit score that high.
But it is possible to achieve an ideal credit score if you’re willing to put in the work necessary to do it. Take a look at how you can get a 700 credit score or better in the coming months and years.
Check Your Credit Report for Errors
According to a recent study conducted by the Federal Trade Commission, about 20% of people have errors on their credit reports. Many of them don’t even realize it.
Each year, you should check your credit report to see where it stands. While you’re looking through it, you should keep your eyes peeled for any errors that might be on it.
A simple error could prevent you from achieving an ideal credit score. You can give your credit score a big boost by disputing an error and having it removed from your credit report right away.
Pay Down as Much Debt as You Can
The average person is walking around with more than $38,000 worth of debt hanging over their heads. From credit card debt to student loan debt to auto loan debt, most people have all kinds of debt dragging their credit score down.
You should find a way to pay down as much of your debt as you can if you have debt that is affecting your credit score. One easy way to do it is by taking out a loan and using it to pay off all the debt that you’re carrying around at the moment.
This post explains what lenders will look at when deciding whether or not to give you a loan. When used properly, loans can make it easier for you to achieve an ideal credit score.
Make Debt Payments on Time
Have you gotten into the habit of paying most of your bills late? You might not think that paying them a few days late is such a big deal, but it could be doing a number on your credit score.
Every time you make a late payment on a credit card, your credit card company will let the credit bureaus know about it. And if you make enough late payments, it will start to bring your credit score way down.
You should find a way to make your debt payments on time each and every month. It’ll show that you’re responsible enough to manage your debt and provide you with a higher credit score.
Ask Creditors to Increase Your Credit Limits
When you show that you can be responsible when using credit, your credit card companies will often respond by increasing your credit limits. They do this to try and entice you to rack up more debt on your credit cards.
You should not do this if you want to achieve an ideal credit score. The more debt that you have in your name, the lower your credit score is going to go.
You should, however, take advantage of credit limit increases from your creditors. You should even actively seek credit limit increases on your credit cards if you are so inclined.
When a creditor increases your credit limit, it’ll give you more available credit and bring down your credit utilization ratio. This will lead to an increase in your credit score over time, provided you don’t use up your newly available credit.
Avoid Applying for Too Many Forms of Credit
The simple act of applying for a single form of credit is enough to lower your credit score and move it further away from the ideal number. It’s why you need to be careful about applying for too many forms of credit over time.
You might not think there’s any harm in seeing whether or not you qualify for an auto loan or a new credit card. But when you fill out an application for credit, a creditor will do either a soft or hard pull on your credit to see where you stand.
A soft pull usually won’t affect your credit score too much. But a hard pull could cause it to take a tumble.
Fortunately, hard pulls on your credit will only stay on your credit report for a year or two in most cases. But if you have a series of hard pulls done, it could force you to spend a year or two living with a credit score that’s less than ideal for no real reason.
Be careful about how and when you apply for new forms of credit.
Keep a Close Eye on Your Credit Score
How are you going to know if you have an ideal credit score if you don’t take the time to check your credit report every year?
Americans have the ability to get access to their credit reports for free each year. Yet, studies have shown that about 40% of people don’t take advantage of this and don’t have the slightest clue where their credit score stands.
If you fall into this category, change that immediately. Start keeping a closer eye on your credit score so that you’re able to bring it up over 700 and keep it there.
Achieving an Ideal Credit Score Is More Than Possible
If you’re someone who has struggled with debt in the past, achieving an ideal credit score might not seem like something that would be possible for you. But you can do it with a little bit of patience and a lot of hard work.
Use the tips found here to guide you as you set out to achieve an ideal credit score. Within just a few months, you can start to bring your credit score up and put yourself into a much better financial position.
Check out our blog for more informative articles on credit scores.
