Planning to apply for a car loan, mortgage, or other loan in the near future? To get the best interest rates, it is important to be sure that your credit score is in good shape. If your credit score is less than perfect, don’t fret! Raising your score by even a few points can make a major difference when applying for a loan.

Unsure of how to get started? Review these quick and simple ways to get a head start on boosting your credit score.

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Utilize Professional Credit Repair Services

In 2013, the FTC reported that 1 in 5 Americans have at least one mistake on his or her credit report. That means a large number of individuals have a lower credit score than they deserve. Depending on the severity, even one error can have a damaging impact on your credit score.

Don’t have the time to look for and clean up errors on your credit report? Credit repair companies do all of the hard work for you, and help effortlessly raise your credit score to where it should have been before the errors appeared.

Pay Down Debt

Regularly using more than 30% of your credit card limit can impair your credit score and may even affect your ability to get certain jobs. While it may seem like no big deal, high revolving balances can be a major detrimental factor when determining your credit score.  If you are above this percentage (or even above your credit limit!), pay your balance down right away. Paying off high revolving balances is one of the quickest ways to increase your credit score, according to CreditRepairCompanies.

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Make All of Your Payments on Time

While this seems like a no-brainer, making your payments on time is also another large factor in calculating your credit score.  Some months it can be easy to forget about or postpone payments when other expenses arise. The cost of this behavior is often more than it is worth. Late payments can rapidly decrease your score, and can stay on your credit report for up to seven years.

What is the Best Way to Earn a Good Credit Score?

The best way to maintain a good credit score is to maintain good credit behaviors. Paying the full balance on your card(s), making all payments on time, and regularly checking your credit report for errors are some of the top ways to keep your credit score as healthy as possible.