: Do not close old credit cards, even if you don't use them. The length of your credit history positively impacts your score.
: Asking for a higher limit on existing cards can instantly lower your utilization ratio, provided you don't spend the new available credit.
: Do not open new credit cards or take out auto loans while preparing for a mortgage, as new "hard inquiries" can temporarily lower your score. 3. Payment History Maintenance
Start by pulling your free credit reports from AnnualCreditReport.com to identify inaccuracies.