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Credit Score Improvement Roadmap
Your step-by-step plan to build excellent credit
Phase 1: Foundation (Months 1-3)
Review Your Reports
Get reports from all three bureaus and identify errors.
Dispute Errors
File disputes for any inaccurate information.
Set Up Payment System
Automate payments to ensure you never miss a due date.
Phase 2: Optimization (Months 4-6)
Lower Utilization
Pay down balances to under 30%, ideally under 10%.
Address Negatives
Negotiate pay-for-delete or goodwill deletions.
Build Positive History
Make on-time payments and use credit responsibly.
Phase 3: Growth (Months 7-12)
Diversify Credit Mix
Consider adding an installment loan if you only have cards.
Monitor Progress
Check scores monthly and adjust strategies.
Maintain Good Habits
Keep utilization low and payments on time.
Long-Term Strategy
- Keep old accounts open
- Limit new credit applications
- Review reports annually
- Continue building payment history