Content Marketing Strategy: Thinking Bigger
With a little strategy and pre-planning you can make a larger splash with your content marketing asset so it keeps paying dividends for months. The best part is you don’t have to be a big company to look like one.
Even a cursory reading of blogs about creating great content for marketing and lead generation will clue you into the benefit of involving industry influencers in the content you create.
You can do interviews, Q&As, guest posts, best of lists that include their name, or even use quotes from their posts and linking back to it. People love to share content that makes them look good. Even big influencers are susceptible to a sincere compliment or shout out.
Getting Started
Let’s start with the first phase, and then see where we can go with our project.
Different points of viewpoints or answers from five different experts make one very powerful post. By thinking ahead I can turn that into a five week series of blog posts. All I have to do is ask each of those experts the same set of multiple questions.
Finding a Topic
Use your domain expertise and draw on your experience. What do people want to know when they come to you? Between the marketing and sales staff you should easily be able to generate a very good list of problems customers are trying to solve. I blog and consult about social media, communications, and content marketing topics. So, let’s look at content marketing. What are some of the common questions I get asked around implementing a content marketing program?
If I spend 10 minutes thinking about that, and sipping a glass of wine on the back porch, I can easily come up with 5 questions I get all the time. Such a list of questions might look like this:
Building Your List Of Experts
With that list of interesting questions, I can easily find five marketing smarties. You should be reading blogs and following experts in your field already, and be able to create a list of people to ask off the top of your head. However, let’s say I’m new and need a little help building my marketing list of experts to interview. I can Google for the best marketing blogs, best Twitterers to follow, or ask marketing people I know who they respect and read for content marketing wisdom.
The Ask
When you ask experts for their opinion, you are asking them to give you for free what they charge their clients money to get. This is an important tip: Make sure you have interacted with your influencers before. Ideally, you know them in real life. If not, prior to asking if you can interview them, you need to connect with them so they know that you are a fan.
How To Nicely Cyberstalk Influencers
If they have a blog, thoughtfully comment on two or three posts.
If they are on Twitter, RT their tweets and tweet several blog posts being sure to include their Twitter name.
If they are on LinkedIn and belong to a group you belong, you can like and comment on their discussion posts, and send them direct mail via the group.
Turning Your Expert Answers Into A Blog Series
Once you have collected everyone’s answer, you can then group their answers for each question together. This makes five individual awesome blog post for each questions. One of those posts might look like this:
What Are The Best Methods To Distribute My Marketing Content Effectively?
We asked 5 marketing experts about their thoughts on this question: Beyond posting it to my blog, what else should marketers be doing with their content? Here is what they had to say:
Phase Two: Turn Your Digital Asset Into More New Content
I now have five great blog posts I can run weekly for five weeks or on whatever schedule I wish. With the same content how else could I have planned to use it after the series finishes?
A Few Final Thoughts
“A little more moderation would be good. Of course, my life hasn’t exactly been one of moderation.”
-Donald Trump
“All of the women on The Apprentice flirted with me – consciously or unconsciously. That’s to be expected.”
-Donald Trump
“I wasn’t satisfied just to earn a good living. I was looking to make a statement.”
-Donald Trump
“It’s tangible, it’s solid, it’s beautiful. It’s artistic, from my standpoint, and I just love real estate.”
-Donald Trump
“Money was never a big motivation for me, except as a way to keep score. The real excitement is playing the game.”
-Donald Trump
“I like thinking big. If you’re going to be thinking anything, you might as well think big.”
-Donald Trump
“What separates the winners from the losers is how a person reacts to each new twist of fate.”
-Donald Trump
7 Timeless Skills for Any Real Estate Market
Regardless of how your market is performing, you’ll succeed in real estate if you can master these essential skills.
The real estate profession changes every day, but the qualities you find in top-performing practitioners do not. The details may shift as technology rolls forward, yet the underlying skills are always the same. If you can master these, you’ll be successful in any market.
Skill 1: Meeting New People
The simple fact is that if you never meet anyone new, you will never have anyone new to sell to. Whether you encounter them for the first time in person, online, or over the phone doesn’t matter. Get one-on-one with them in a conversation about their needs, and you’ve at least started down the path to success.
Skill 2: Making Personal Connections
You don’t have to be the best at everything to succeed in this business. You just have to be competent and likeable. People buy from people they like. Develop the ability to connect with your clients and make them trust you, and 90 percent of your sales process is done. Want a quick way to engender trust? Tell the client something that it’s not in your best interest to tell them. Show them that honestly is more important than anything to you.
Now, this doesn’t mean to tell them that you got sued last week — that will make people nervous. But it could mean mentioning that the houses in another neighborhood have the same amount of space and are less expensive. They know that you get paid more if you sell them a higher-priced house. Showing them something in their best interests instead of yours makes you trustworthy.
Skill 3: Following Up on Every Lead
Follow-up is a big area where agents fail. If you aren’t going to take every lead you get and work it to death, then you’ll never be a top performer. Working every lead until it either closes or is clearly not a lead anymore is critical to building the solid pipeline that’s required to keep your business continually producing. This means that you need a system to make sure that nothing gets dropped or forgotten. Throw away your Post-it notes; they should never be used as a place to write down a lead. All leads need to be kept in one place, and all of them need a minimum amount of information. That includes:
•The person’s name
•Contact information
•What property they contacted you about (or where they came from if it wasn’t from a property)
•What their timeframe is for moving
•If they’re buying, selling, or both
•If they’re buying, what they’re looking for and in what area
•What their emotional hot buttons are (what they get excited or angry about)
If you don’t have all of the information you need, don’t be afraid to contact them again for more information. And once you have the information you need, continue to contact them on a regular basis to make sure they stay on track. Don’t worry that you’ll be bothering them—instead, worry that they would otherwise forget who you are or feel ignored by you.
Skill 4: Asking for What You Want
This is typically a big problem with real estate rookies, but you’d be surprised how many veterans forget this piece of the puzzle, too. It’s not always easy, but you have to ask for things to get them. Ask for the sale. Ask for the appointment. Ask for the phone number of the person your client wants to refer.
Don’t wait for people to call you, for the clients to say they’re ready, or for the buyers to tell you that this is the house they want. Be direct. Ask them, “Is this the house you want to buy?” “I’ll get your house on the market tomorrow if you’ll sign right here.” “Which is better for you: Monday at 6 p.m. or Wednesday at 3 p.m.?” “Why don’t you give me your friend’s number and then you don’t have to think about it anymore?” All of these are great closing questions used by some of the top practitioners in the industry.
Skill 5: Setting Appropriate Expectations
Once you have the contracts signed and your clients are committed to the process, then it’s all about meeting expectations. And make no mistake, there will be expectations—whether you set them or your clients do. This is why it’s important to set those expectations yourself; you don’t want to get blindsided by something the clients decided to expect without consulting you.
The best real estate professionals are masters at setting expectations. They know what reasonable timeframes are, and they don’t make promises they can’t keep. They let clients know immediately if things need to change and they set the new expectations quickly and decisively, leaving no room for the clients to wonder (and worry) what happens next.
Skill 6: Taking Care of Details
You must treat you business like a business. This means that having a system in place to make sure that deadlines get met, appraisals are ordered, home inspection responses come in on time, appointments aren’t forgotten, and problems are solved. You should even have systems to make sure that your clients—and, if you’re really smart, the other side’s clients—have handled all of the details that they need to attend to. Hold on to every deal and work it until it closes, letting nothing go. In saving multiple deals from certain death each year, top performers improve their closing ratios and increase their per-hour earnings.
Skill 7: Paying Close Attention to Money
Lots of agents tell me that it’s not about the money for them; it’s about the people. And that’s great. I love helping people, too. But if you don’t focus on making money, you’re not going to make any. Real estate is your business, your livelihood, and you deserve to be compensated for the skills and services you provide. If you stop paying attention to the money, you’ll do things like:
•Negotiate away your commission.
•Not take a referral fee “to be nice.”
•Work on listings that will never pay you anything close to reasonable compensation for the amount of work they are because you “feel bad for the person.”
•Take overpriced listings so that the sellers will like you.
•Not make buyers sign contracts.
•Stay with a broker who pays you a below-market split.
All of these things result in you working too hard and not making what you deserve. It’s not your job to right the wrongs of the world. It’s your job to make a living for yourself, preferably a really good one. It’s not about the number of deals you do; it’s about how much money you get to keep when the deals are done.
You have to focus on the money if you hope to be successful. If you’re not making a profit, you’re running a charity, not a business, and you don’t get grants like charities do to make ends meet.
You have to keep up with changes in technology, industry regulations, buyer and seller priorities, and economic conditions. But the skills that I’ve listed above will take you further than any new flashy marketing plan or social media technique. No matter what’s going on in real estate, these skills will be the difference between a good agent and a great one.
High-End Real Estate Agents & Property Developers
Europe | Middle East | North America | Private Islands |
“It’s tangible, it’s solid, it’s beautiful. It’s artistic, from my standpoint, and I just love real estate. – Donald Trump.
ESTATE AGENT is the term used in the United Kingdom to describe a person or organization whose business is to market real estate on behalf of clients, but there are significant differences between the actions and liabilities of brokers and estate agents in each country. Beyond the US, other countries take markedly different approaches to the marketing and selling of real property.
A REAL ESTATE BROKER is a term in the United States and Canada that describes a party who acts as an intermediary between sellers and buyers of real estate (or real property as it is known elsewhere) and attempts to find sellers who wish to sell and buyers who wish to buy. In the United States, the relationship was originally established by reference to the English common law of agency with the broker having a fiduciary relationship with his clients.
In the US, Real Estate Brokers and their salespersons (commonly called “Real Estate Agents” or, in some states, “Brokers”) assist sellers in marketing their property and selling it for the highest possible price under the best terms. When acting as a Buyer’s agent with a signed agreement (or, in many cases, verbal agreement, although a broker may not be legally entitled to his commission unless the agreement is in writing), they assist buyers by helping them purchase property for the lowest possible price under the best terms. Without a signed agreement, brokers may assist buyers in the acquisition of property but still represent the seller and the seller’s interests.
In most jurisdictions in the United States, a person must have a license before they may receive remuneration for services rendered as a Real Estate Broker. Unlicensed activity is illegal, but buyers and sellers acting as principals in the sale or purchase of real estate are not required to be licensed. In some states, lawyers are allowed to handle real estate sales for compensation without being licensed as brokers or agents.
Europe
Channel Islands, U.K. | Denmark | France |
Monaco | Montenegro | Portugal |
Russia | Spain | Sweden |
United Kingdom |
Channel Islands, U.K.
Denmark
France
Monaco
Montenegro
Portugal
Russia
Spain
Sweden
United Kingdom
Middle East
Abu Dhabi | Dubai | Qatar |
Abu Dhabi
Dubai
Qatar
North America
Canada | Mexico | U.S.A. |
Canada
Mexico
U.S.A.
Private Islands
Personal vs Business Branding: Which one would you pick?
Of late, you have the personal branding idea embarking in the business world. When you compare the personal vs. business branding, the former comes out to be a better deal in many ways. Personal branding is easier than the business one as it is managed single handedly. So if you think you have the skills, talent and ability, it is really easy to sell anything in the market. Your image or personal brand is already there in the market; all you need to do is simply promote your idea. However, business branding is considered to be a complex and time taking procedure. For smaller businesses, personal branding works better and faster than the other option. In fact, it helps you to build the business branding.
Authenticity factor
The factor of authenticity remains one of the major competitive benefits of personal branding. The personal branding authenticity refers to its level genuineness. When the authenticity development can be difficult for small businesses, larger business organizations find it impossible. However, smaller groups by adopting a couple of innovative ideas help them to appear more sincere to their potential buyers as compared to the larger companies. The best example of personal branding employed by small businesses is the use of personal stories in newsletter, blogs or ezines to connect with your subscribers and readers. Even larger business groups too are seen using this tool, a good example can be Mary Kay Cosmetics, the company which is known to have built its authenticity in the market on the authentic stories of its founder.
Magnetic personality
On comparing personal branding with business branding, small business groups find easier to build their business around their unique personality. It is really difficult for big groups to extract all its multiple personalities in one magnetic unit. A magnetic personality is instrumental in attracting potential buyers. The same personality can amplify the probability of repeating follow-up business from your current buyers and thus alleviates the loss of potential buyer to your competitor.
By having a magnetic brand personality, you can help your small business group to build customer loyalty. Going out of the way proves out to be a good idea for personal branding at such places. It is an effective method to personalize the product or service and thus make it stand out. A majority of large size businesses or companies can have distinct benefits like production and unit costs; however, the customer service level often remains stagnant and impersonal.
Customer service
Personal branding proves out to be a better deal than business branding in terms of some specific success factors in any established market. They are generally more competent in delivering things fast and with true technical support. Also, small businesses are able to deliver far better personable customer service. Any efficient and smart small business groups easily manage precise relevant customer information along with order information. Any small business finds less challenging to establish and maintain market position and competitive advantage by rendering better and attractive customer warranties and guarantees as compared to the larger business groups. The other benefits include giving more personal care or quick delivery time that goes perfectly at the smaller businesses.
Though business branding can be seen with things like production and unit costs within its belts, however, personal branding comes with a couple of benefits which bigger groups can find challenging to adopt. The potential buyer power in this multifaceted business branding chain and competitive benefits cannot be over emphasized in personal branding especially when the competition is with big companies.
How to Find a Good Real Estate Investment Property
There are many ways in which you can find a great property for your real estate investment. The problem lies in the fact that many would be investors aren’t exactly certain what specific types of investment they wish to make. Unfortunately, the type of investing will greatly affect the type of property that will best suit your real estate needs. This article focuses on finding a great property for the purpose of flipping or rehabbing a property.
Seek Bargains
This is absolutely a necessary step when it comes to finding properties with excellent potential as flipped properties. Bargains are often sold at bargain prices for a reason. The good news is that many of these reasons are purely cosmetic and quite simple to fix. Finding a realtor that is willing to work with you for lower prices, bargain properties offer an excellent place to begin. If he or she is a knowledgeable professional you should have access to properties that would have been unavailable to you had you continued the search without the assistance of a professional.
Another great place to find bargains of this nature is to search through foreclosures, auctions, and homes that are preparing to enter into foreclosure. While not always the case, there are many in these situations that are willing to be a bit more flexible with the price. Never offer full asking price first. Start low and negotiate up. This may lose some properties but in the end it will be a much more profitable venture if you can get the properties you want for a smaller investment.
Know the Neighborhood
Before placing a bid on a potential property for flipping you need to learn as much about the neighborhood as possible. You do not want to place a family home in the middle of a retirement neighborhood, nor do you want to place a potential bachelor pad in that type of area. You also want to avoid areas that are entering a state of decline, as the rehab efforts are unlikely to achieve the profits you are hoping to receive. Instead, look for bargains in areas that are approaching some sort of renewal or have very low crime and excellent growth potential.
If you are rehabbing a home that is meant to appeal to families make sure the neighborhood is safe, has a relatively low crime rate, access to good schools, and entertainment opportunities that may appeal to families. These things will affect the price you are likely to be able to expect once the rehab efforts have been completed as well as the type of renovations you will need to perform on the property. Buying a property in an area that you know nothing about is like buying a property without an inspection-which brings me to my next point.
Get a Thorough Inspection
This is one of the most important steps in the process of selecting the perfect property for your real estate investment needs. A qualified inspection will prepare you for any problems that may arise during the course of your work on the home. These are things that will affect the amount of money you should offer on the home, the amount of money you will need to invest in repairs, and the amount of money you can expect once all is said and done.
Failing to have a complete and proper inspection can lead to disaster when the renovations begin costing extra money and time as efforts are undone in order to get to the root of the problems as you go. There are very few things that can save you the time or money that having a decent inspection can manage to save. Inspections can also make you aware of any structural problems, code problems, and other problems that may mean the difference between this property offering a possible profit or a probable loss. It is much better to be armed with this knowledge before ever making an offer on the property in question.
Realize That You do not Need to Buy the First Property You See
This is an important thing to remember. If the first property doesn’t speak to you, move on until you find one that does. This process is part science and part inspiration. If you are uninspired by a property it is unlikely that this property will suddenly take on a life of its own in order to suit your real estate investment needs. Keep searching until you find the property that meets all of your needs in order to find the perfect property for your first or your fiftieth flip.
101 Powerful Tips for
Legally
Improving Your Credit Score
Introduction
There are many misconceptions about credit scores out there. There are customers who believe
that they don’t have a credit score and many customers who think that their credit scores just
don’t really matter. These sorts of misconceptions can hurt your chances at some jobs, at good
interest rates, and even your chances of getting some apartments.
The truth is, of you have a bank account and bills, then you have a credit score, and your credit
score matters more than you might think. Your credit score may be called many things,
including a credit risk rating, a FICO score, a credit rating, a FICO rating, or a credit risk score.
All these terms refer to the same thing: the three-digit number that lets lenders get an idea of how
likely you are to repay your bills.
Every time you apply for credit, apply for a job that requires you to handle money, or even apply
for some more exclusive types of apartment living, your credit score is checked.
In fact, your credit score can be checked by anyone with a legitimate business need to do so.
Your credit score is based on your past financial responsibilities and past payments and credit,
and it provides potential lenders with a quick snapshot of your current financial state and past
repayment habits.
In other words, your credit score lets lenders know quickly how much of a credit risk you are.
Based on this credit score, lenders decide whether to trust you financially – and give you better
rates when you apply for a loan. Apartment managers can use your credit score to decide
whether you can be trusted to pay your rent on time. Employers can use your credit score to
decide whether you can be trusted in a high-responsibility job that requires you to handle money.
In fact, the following 101 tips can get you well on your way to boosting your credit score and
saving you money.
By the end of this ebook, you will be able to:
•Define a credit score, a credit report, and other key financial terms
•Develop a personalized credit repair plan that addresses your unique financial situation
•Find the resources and people who can help you repair your credit score
•Repair your credit effectively using the very techniques used by credit repair experts
Plus, unlike many other books on the subject, this ebook will show you how to deal with your
everyday life while repairing your credit. Your credit repair does not happen in a vacuum.
This book will teach you the powerful strategies you need to build the financial habits that will
help you to a keep a high credit risk rating. It really is that simple.
Start reading and be prepared to start taking small but powerful steps that can have a dramatic
impact on your financial life!
The Basics
Before you start boosting your credit score, you need to know the basics. You need to know
what a credit score is, how it is developed, and why it is important to you in your everyday life.
Lenders certainly know what sort of information they can get from a credit score, but knowing
this information yourself can help you better see how your everyday financial decisions impact
the financial picture lenders get of you through your credit score. A few simple tips are all you
need to know to understand the basic principles:
Tip #1: Understand where credit scores come from.
If you are going to improve your credit score, then logic has it that you must understand what
your credit score is and how it works. Without this information, you won’t be able to very
effectively improve your score because you won’t understand how the things you do in daily life
affect your score.
In general, your credit score is a number that lets lenders know how much of a credit risk you
are. The credit score is a number, usually between 300 and 850, that lets lenders know how well
you are paying off your debts and how much of a credit risk you are.
In general, the higher your credit score, the better credit risk you make and the more likely you
are to be given credit at great rates. Scores in the low 600s and below will often give you trouble
in finding credit, while scores of 720 and above will generally give you the best interest rates out
there. However, credit scores are a lot like GPAs or SAT scores from college days – while they
give others a quick snapshot of how you are doing, they are interpreted by people in different
ways. Some lenders put more emphasis on credit scores than others.
Some lenders will work with you if you have credit scores in the 600s, while others offer their
best rates only to those creditors with very high scores indeed. Some lenders will look at your
entire credit report while others will accept or reject your loan application based solely on your
credit score.
The credit score is based on your credit report, which contains a history of your past debts and
repayments. Credit bureaus use computers and mathematical calculations to arrive at a credit
score from the information contained in your credit report.
Each credit bureau uses different methods to do this (which is why you will have different scores
with different companies) but most credit bureaus use the FICO system. FICO is an acronym for
the credit score calculating software offered by Fair Isaac Corporation company. This is by far
the most used software since the Fair Isaac Corporation developed the credit score model used
by many in the financial industry and is still considered one of the leaders in the field.
In fact, credit scores are sometimes called FICO scores or FICO ratings, although it is important
to understand that your score may be tabulated using different software.
One other thing you may want to understand about the software and mathematics that goes into
your credit score is the fact that the math used by the software is based on research and
comparative mathematics. This is an important and simple concept that can help you understand
how to boost your credit score. In simple terms, what this means is that your credit score is in a
way calculated on the same principles as your insurance premiums.
Your insurance company likely asks you questions about your health, your lifestyle choices
(such as whether you are a smoker) because these bits of information can tell the insurance
company how much of a risk you are and how likely you are to make large claims later on. This
is based on research.
Studies have shown, for example, that smokers tend to be more prone to serious illnesses and so
require more medical attention. If you are a smoker, you may face higher insurance premiums
because of this.
Similarly, credit bureaus and lenders often look at general patterns. Since people with too many
debts tend not to have great rates of repayment, your credit score may suffer if you have too
many debts, for example. Understanding this can help you in two ways:
1) It will let you see that your credit score is not a personal reflection of how “good” or “bad”
you are with money. Rather, it is a reflection of how well lenders and companies think you will
repay your bills – based on information gathered from studying other people.
2) It will let you see that if you want to improve your credit score, you need to work on
becoming the sort of debtor that studies have shown tends to repay their bills. You do not have
to work hard to reinvent yourself financially and you do not have to start making much more
money. You just need to be a reliable lender. This realization alone should help make credit
repair far less stressful!
Credit reports are put together by credit bureaus, which use information from client companies. It
works like this: credit bureaus have clients – such as credit card companies and utility companies,
to name just two – who provide them with information.
Once a file is begun on you (i.e. once you open a bank account or have bills to pay) then
information about you is stored on the record. If you are late paying a bill, the clients call the
credit bureaus and note this. Any unpaid bills, overdue bills or other problems with credit count
as “dings” on your credit report and affect your score.
Information such as what type of debt you have, how much debt you have, how regularly you
pay your bills on time, and your credit accounts are all information that is used to calculate your
credit score.
Your age, sex, and income do not count towards your credit score. The actual formula used by
credit bureaus to calculate credit scores is a well-kept secret, but it is known that recent account
activity, debts, length of credit, unpaid accounts, and types of credit are among the things that
count the most in tabulating credit scores from a credit report.
Tip #2: Keep the contact information for credit bureaus handy.
The three major credit bureaus are important to contact if you are going to be repairing your
credit score. The major three credit agencies can help you by sending you your credit report. If
you find an error on your credit report, these are also the companies you must contact in order to
correct the problem. You can easily contact these organizations by mail, telephone, or through
the Internet:
Equifax Credit Information Services, Inc
Address: P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374
Telephone: 1_888_766_0008
Online: http://www.equifax.com
TransUnion LLC Consumer Disclosure Center
Address: P.O. Box 1000
Chester, PA 19022
Telephone: 1_800_888_4213
Online: http://www.tuc.com
Experian National Consumer Assistance Center
Address: PO Box 2002
Allen, TX 75013
Telephone: 1_888_397_3742
Online: http://www.experian.com
You may want to note this information wherever most of your financial information is kept so
that you can easily contact the bureaus whenever you need to. Your local yellow pages should
also have the contact information of these credit agencies as well.
Tip #3: Develop an action plan for dealing with your credit score.
Once you have your credit report and your credit score, you will be able to tell where you stand
and where many of your problems lie. If you have a poor score, try to see in your credit report
what could be causing the problem:
-Do you have too much debt?
-Too many unpaid bills?
-Have you recently faced a major financial upset such as a bankruptcy?
-Have you simply not had credit long enough to establish good credit?
-Have you defaulted on a loan, failed to pay taxes, or recently been reported to a collection
agency?
The problems that contribute to your credit problems should dictate how you decide to boost
your credit score. As you read through this ebook, highlight or jot down those tips that apply to
you and from them develop a checklist of things you can do that would help your credit situation
improve.
When you seek professional credit counseling or credit help, counselors will generally work with
you to help you develop a personalized strategy that expressly addresses your credit problems
and financial history.
When developing your action plan, know where most of your credit score is coming from:
1)
Your credit history (accounts for more than a third of your credit score in some cases).
Whether or not you have been a good credit risk in the past is considered the best indicator of
how you will react to debt in the future. For this reason, late payment, loan defaults, unpaid
taxes, bankruptcies, and other unmet debt responsibilities will count against you the most. You
can’t do much about your financial past now, but starting to pay your bills on time – starting
today – can help boost your credit score in the future.
2)
Your current debts (accounts for approximately a third of your credit score in some cases).
If you have lots of current debt, it may indicate that you are stretching yourself financially thin
and so will have trouble paying back debts in the future. If you have a lot of money owing right
now – and especially if you have borrowed a great deal recently – this fact will bring down your
credit score. You an boost your credit score by paying down your debts as far as you can.
3)
How long you have had credit (accounts for up to 15% of your credit score in some cases).
If you have not had credit accounts for very long, you may not have enough of a history to let
lenders know whether you make a good credit risk. Not having had credit for a long time can
affect your credit score. You can counter this by keeping your accounts open rather than closing
them off as you pay them off.
4)
The types of credit you have (accounts for about one tenth of your credit score, in most
cases). Lenders like to see a mix of financial responsibilities that you handle well. Having bills
that you pay as well as one or two types of loans can actually improve your credit score. Having
at least one credit card that you manage well can also help your credit score.
As you can see, it is possible to only estimate how much a specific area of your credit report
affects your credit score. Nevertheless, keeping these five areas in mind and making sure that
each is addressed in your personalized plan will go a long way in making sure that your
personalized credit repair plan is comprehensive enough to boost your credit effectively.
The Best Ways to Boost Your Credit Score
Because of the way credit scores are calculated, some actions you take will affect your credit
score better than others. In general, paying your bills on time and meeting your financial
responsibilities will boost your score the most. Owing a reasonable amount of money and being
able to repay it will show lenders that you take your finances seriously and pose little threat of
lost money. There are a few tips that, more than any other, will boost your credit score the most:
Tip # 4: Pay your bills on time.
One of the best ways to improve your credit score is simply to pay your bills on time. This is
absurdly simple but it works very well, because nothing shows lenders that you take debts
seriously as much as a history of paying promptly. Every lender wants to be paid in full and on
time.
If you pay all your bills on time then the odds are good that you will make the payments on a
new debt on time, too, and that is certainly something every lender wants to see. Experts think
that up to 35% of your credit score is based on your paying of bills on time, so this simple step is
one of the easiest ways to boost your credit score.
Paying your bills on time also ensures that you don’t get hit with late fees and other financial
penalties that make paying your bills off harder. Paying your bills in a timely way makes it easier
to keep making payments on time.
Of course, if you have had problems making your payments on time in the past, your current
credit score will reflect this. It will take a number of months of repaying your bills on time to
improve your credit score again, but the effort will be well worth it when your credit risk rating
rebounds!
Tip #5: Avoid excessive credit.
If you have many lines of credit or several huge debts, you make a worse credit risk because you
are close to “overextending your credit.” This simply means that you may be taking on more
credit than you can comfortably pay off. Even if you are making payments regularly now on
existing bills, lenders know that you will have a harder time paying off your bills if your debt
load grows too much.
The higher your debts the greater your monthly debt payments and so the higher the risk that you
will eventually be able to repay your debts. Plus, statistical studies have shown that those with
high debt loads have the hardest time financially when faced with a crisis such as a divorce,
unemployment, or sudden illness.
Lenders (and credit bureaus who calculate your credit score) know that the more debt you have
the greater problems you will have in case you do run into a life crisis.
In order to have a great credit score, avoid taking out excessive credit. You should stick to one
or two credit cards and one or two other major debts (car loan, mortgage) in order to have the
best credit rating. Do not apply for every new credit line or credit card “just in case.” Borrow
only when you need it and make sure to make payments on your debts on time.
You should also know that taking out lots of new credit accounts in a relatively short period of
time will cause your credit score to nosedive because it will look as though you are being
financially irresponsible.
Tip #6: Pay Down Your Debts
If you have a lot of debt, your credit score will suffer. Paying down your debts to a minimum
will help elevate your credit score. For example, if you have a $1000 limit on your credit card
and you regularly carry a balance of $900, you will be a less attractive credit risk to lenders than
someone who has the same credit card but carries a smaller balance of $100 or so. If you are
serious about improving your credit score, then start with the largest debt you have and start
paying it down so that you are using a less large percentage of your credit total.
In general, try to make sure that you use no more than 50% of your credit. That means that if
your credit card has a limit of $5000, make sure that you pay it down to at least $2500 and work
at carrying no larger balance. If possible, reduce the debt even more. If you can pay off your
credit card in full each month, that is even better. What counts here is what percentage of your
total credit limit you are using – the lower the better.
Tip #7: Have a range of credit types.
The types of credit you have are a factor in calculating your credit score. In general, lenders like
to see that you are able to handle a range of credit types well. Having some form of personal
credit – such as credit cards – and some larger types of credit – such as a mortgage or auto loan –
and paying them off regularly is better than having only one type of credit.
Keep Your Credit Score Safe
If you have a lower credit score that you would like, odds are that the score is caused by some
small financial mistake or oversight you have made in the past. Not every person with bad credit
has a low credit score caused by something they did, though. Sometimes, other people’s criminal
activity can affect your credit score. There are a few tips that can keep you and your credit safe
form online and financial predators:
Tip #8: Look out for identity theft.
Many people who are careful about paying bills on time and having minimal debts are shocked
each year to find that they have low credit scores. In many cases, this happens as a result of
identity theft. Identity theft is a type of crime in which people take your personal information
and steal that information to pose as you in order to get access to your accounts or identity.
For example, someone with your PIN numbers can remove small amounts of money from your
bank account each month or someone can use your name and personal information to get credit
cards in your name and use those credit cards with no intention of paying back the money. You
are stuck with the large debts and the poor credit score.
To prevent identity theft, always check your account statements carefully each month. Report
any suspicious activity or any charges you don’t recognize at once. Also check your credit
report regularly and immediately investigate any new credit accounts you do not recognize – this
is the best way of detecting and acting on identity theft.
If you have been the victim of identity theft, report to the police at once and get a police
statement. Send copies of this to your bank and credit bureaus. Better yet, get the credit bureaus
to attach the report to your credit report, if you can. Close all your accounts and reopen new
ones. You should not have to pay for someone else’s illegal activity.
Tip #9: Practice safe banking, safe computing, and safe business practices.
To stay safe from identity theft, always follow safe banking and financial practices:
1) Keep account numbers and PIN numbers safe. Cover your account and PIN numbers when
using debit at the store and refuse to give your PIN number to anyone. Avoid writing down your
PIN and account numbers – you never know when this information could fall into the wrong
hands.
2) Only do business with businesses you trust.
3)If you get applications for credit cards in the mail that are “pre-approved” rip up the
applications and enclosed letters before discarding them. No, this is not paranoid. Identity
thieves sometimes go through garbage in order to find these forms so that they can fill them out
and steal your identity.
4) If you use a computer, install good firewall and antivirus protection system and update it
religiously. Better yet, take a course in safe computing at your local college or community
center. You will learn many good tips for keeping all your information safe while you are
online.
5) Never buy anything online from a company you do not trust of from a company that does not
have encryption technology and a good privacy policy.
6) Even with all computer precautions, avoid providing private information through email or
your computer. Be especially cautious if you get an email from your bank asking you to verify
your information by clicking on a link – this is a popular scam that comes not from your bank but
from criminals posing as your bank. Ignore the email and phone your bank about the message.
7) Be wary of unsolicited emails, phone calls, or mail advertisements. Most are from legitimate
companies but there are companies who promise you a credit card over the telephone only to
charge your existing credit card without sending you anything.
Similarly, letters will sometimes promise you specific items or services. Once you send in your
credit card information (usually to a post office box) you hear no more from the company. If
you need or want to buy something from a company, be sure to check the company’s standing
with the Better Business Bureau first.
Send a money order instead of a check (which had your account number) or your credit card
information. If you do use a credit card, report any unusual charges or any payments you made
for a product that did not arrive to the credit card company.
In some cases, they can stop payment or refund your money as well as take steps to keep your
credit card number safe.
8) Be wary of offers that seem too good to be true. If you get an offer for a ten million dollar
check – for which you need to put down $5000 as a “sign if good faith”…if you get an offer for a
free state-of-the art computer – if only you provide your account information… take a deep breath
and consider before sending in your money and your information.
Offers that are too good to be true always are. Scam artists often rely on your belief in others
and your trust to make money. They depend on the fact that you will be so excited about a
product or service that you will throw good judgment out the window. Prove them wrong.
When faced with an offer that seems too good to be true, do some research on the web, through
the Better Business Bureau, or ask the person making the offer some questions. Never take
someone up on an offer that you have been given unsolicited unless the company and the offer
both check out.
9) Read the fine print. Some services or companies will have tiny print in their contract or
agreement that allows them to charge you extra hidden fees or that allows them to retract certain
offers. If you get an offer through email or the mail, make it a habit to read the fine print.
10) Be alert for a sudden disruption in your mail service. If you do not get mail for some time,
contact your post office and ask whether your address was recently submitted for a “change of
address” service. It sounds strange, but it’s true.
One way that criminals steal identities is to change your address at the local post office. They
redirect your mail to a post office box number and steal your mail looking for personal
information such as bank statements, pre-approved credit card applications, and other pieces of
mail they can use to steal your identity.
They use this information to pose as you with lenders and run up huge charges in your name.
Simply keeping an eye out on your mail can help you keep your credit score safe.
Tip #10: Check your credit score regularly
You are more likely to notice problems and inconsistencies if you check your credit score on a
regular basis – at least once a year and preferably three times a year. Be sure to check your credit
rating with each credit bureau, too. If you notice anything odd or anything you don’t recognize
(such as a charge account you did not open) report it immediately.
Sometimes, these errors are caused by mistakes made at the credit bureau, but they could be an
indication that someone is using your identity. In either case, such mistakes could hurt your
credit score. Fixing such errors improves your credit score.
If you think you have been the victim of identity theft, take action at once:
1) Contact the three major credit bureaus and ask to speak to the fraud department. Explain that
you have been the victim of identity theft (or believe you may have been) and ask that an “alert”
be placed on your file. This will let anyone looking at your report know that you may have been
the victim of fraud. It will also mean that you will be alerted any time a lender asks to look at
your file – each time a lender does look at your file, it may be an indication that the identity
thieves are trying to open a new account in your name.
When the lender sees that the person applying is not you, they will deny the thieves credit and in
most cases the criminals will stop trying to access your identity. Most alerts on your file last 90
or 180 days but you can extend this period to several years by asking the credit agencies for an
extension of the “fraud alert” in writing.
In some states, you can even ask for a freeze to be placed on your credit score and credit report
which will prevent anyone but yourself and those creditors you already have from accessing your
file. Any lenders the thieves contact to set up a new account will be refused access and the
thieves will not be able to get any more money in your name.
You are entitled to a free copy of your credit report if you have been the victim of identity theft.
Be sure to take advantage of this offer so that you can check exactly how your credit has been
affected. Dispute those items that are not yours.
2) Call the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 1-877-438-4338. This is the special hotline that
the FTC has set up to help customers deal with fraud and identity theft. You will be able to get
up-to-date information about your rights and advice as to what you can do to improve your credit
score and keep in safe in the future.
3) Contact the police. Identity theft is a crime and you need to file a police report (be sure to
keep a copy of this report) so that you can help the police potentially catch the criminals
responsible. Contacting the police will also give you a paper trail and proof that a crime has
been committed. Keeping a paper trail of the crime and your response will make it easier for you
to repair your credit if it has been damaged by identity thieves.
4) Contact your creditors or any creditors that the identity thieves have opened an account with.
Ask to speak to the security department and explain your predicament. You may need to have
your accounts closed or at least your passwords changed to protect yourself.
You may also need to fill out a fraud affidavit to state that a crime has been committed – be sure
to keep a copy of this form for your records. The security team of the creditors should be able to
advise you as to what you can do. Be sure to note down who you contacted and when so that
you have records of the steps you have taken to deal with the crime.
If you have been the victim of identity theft and you are deeply in debt to creditors you never
contacted, you will not be held responsible for the charges – but you will have to prove that you
have been the victim of identity theft, which is tricky since the thieves are using your name and
claiming to be you.
It is a frustrating experience because lenders will want to be paid and you will want to avoid
paying for charges you did not run up. Being persistent and keeping good proof that you have
been the victim of a crime will help to clear your credit score. In the meantime, however, you
will be faced with a much lower credit rating than you deserve and you may have to put off
larger purchases that may require a loan.
Avoid Common Credit Score Mistakes
There are a few things that people do without realizing it that have a bad effect on their credit
score. Follow these tips to avoid the common traps that can sink your credit risk rating:
Tip #11: Beware of debts and credit you don’t use.
It is easy today to apply for a store credit card that you forget all about in three years – but that
account will remain on your credit report and affect your credit score as long as it is open.
Having credit lines and credit cards you don’t need makes you seem like a worse credit risk
because you run the risk of “overextending” your credit.
Also, having lots of accounts you don’t use increases the odds that you will forget about an old
account and stop making payments on it – resulting in a lowered credit score. Keep only your
used accounts and make sure that all other accounts are closed. Having fewer accounts will
make it easier for you to keep track of your debts and will increase the chances of you having a
good credit score.
However, realize that when you close an account, the record of the closed account remains on
your credit report and can affect your credit score for a while. In fact, closing unused credit
accounts may actually cause your credit score to drop in the short term, as you will have higher
credit balances spread out over a smaller overall credit account base.
For example, if your unused accounts amounted to $2000 and you owe $1000 on accounts that
you have now (let’s say on two credit cards that total $2000) you have gone from using one
fourth of your credit ($1000 owed on a possible $4000 you could have borrowed) to using one
half of your credit (you owe $1000 from a possible $2000). This will actually cause your credit
risk rating to drop. In the long term, though, not having extra temptation to charge and not
having credit you don’t need can work for you.
Tip #12: Be careful of inquiries on your credit report.
Every time that someone looks at your credit report, the inquiry is noted. If you have lots of
inquiries on your report, it may appear that you are shopping for several loans at once – or that
you have been rejected by lenders. Both make you appear a poor credit risk and may affect your
credit score. This means that you should be careful about who looks at your credit report. If you
are shopping for a loan, shop around within a short period of time, since inquiries made within a
few days of each other will generally be lumped together and counted as one inquiry.
You can also cut down on the number of inquiries on your account by approaching lenders you
have already researched and may be interest in doing business with – by researching first and
approaching second you will likely have only a few lenders accessing your credit report at the
same time, which can help save your credit score.
Tip #13: Be careful of online loan rate comparisons.
Online loan rate quotes are easy to get – type in some personal information and you can get a
quote on your car loan, personal loan, student loan, or mortgage in seconds. This is free and
convenient, leading many people to compare several companies at once in order to make sure
that they get the best deal possible.
The problem is that since online quotes are a fairly recent phenomenon, credit bureaus count
each such quote estimate as an “inquiry.” This means that if you compare too many companies
online by asking for quotes, your credit score will fall due to too many “inquiries.”
This does not mean that you shouldn’t seek online quotes for loans – not at all. In fact, online
loan quotes are a great resource that can help you get the very best rates on your next loan. What
this information does mean, however, is that you should research companies and narrow down
possible lenders to just a few before making inquiries. This will help ensure that the number of
inquires on your credit report is small – and your credit rating will stay in good shape.
Tip #14: Don’t make the mistake of thinking that you only have one credit report.
Most people speak of having a “credit score” when in fact most people have at least three or
more scores – and these scores can vary widely. There are three major credit bureaus in the
country that develop credit reports and calculate credit scores. There are also a number of
smaller credit bureau companies.
Plus, some larger lenders calculate their own credit risk scores based on information in your
credit report. When repairing your credit score, then, you should not focus on one number – at
the very least, you need to contact the three major credit bureaus and work on repairing the three
credit scores separately.
Tip #15: Don’t make the mistake of closing lots of credit accounts just to improve your
score.
This seems like a contradiction, but it really is not. Many people think that to improve their
credit score, they just have to pay off some debts and close their accounts. This is not exactly
accurate. There are several reasons to think carefully before closing your accounts.
First, if you close an account you need (for example, if you close all your credit card accounts)
then you will have to reapply for credit, and all those inquiries from lenders will cause your
credit score to actually drop.
Secondly, most credit bureaus give high favorable points to those who have a good long-term
credit history. That means that closing the credit card account you have had since college may
actually hurt you in the long run. If you have credit accounts that you don’t use or if you have
too many credit lines, then by all means pay off some and close them. Doing so may help your
credit score – but only if you don’t close long-term accounts you need. In general, close the most
recent accounts first and only when you are sure you will not need that credit in the near future.
Closing your accounts is a bad idea if:
1) You will be applying for a loan soon. The closing of your accounts will make your credit
score drop in the short term and will not allow you to qualify for good loan rates.
2) Closing your accounts will make your overall debt balance too high. If you owe $10 000 now
and closing some accounts would leave you with only $1000 of possible credit, you are close to
maxing out your credit – which gives you a bad credit rating.
In the short term, closing accounts will lower your credit score, but in the long run it can be
beneficial.
Tip #16: Don’t assume that one thing will boost your credit score a specific number of
points.
Some debtors are lead to believe that paying off a credit card bill will boost their credit score by
50 points while closing an unused credit account will result in 20 more points. Credit scores are
certainly not this clear-cut or simple.
How much any one action will affect your credit score is impossible to gauge. It will depend on
several factors, including your current credit score and the credit bureau calculating your credit
score.
In general, though, the higher your credit score, the more small factors – such as one unpaid bill –
can affect you. However, when repairing your credit score, you should not be equating specific
credit repair tasks with numbers. The idea is to do as many things as you can to get your credit
score as close to 800 as you are able. Even if you can improve your credit score by 100 points or
so, you will qualify for better interest rates.
Tip #17: Don’t think that having no loans or debts will improve your credit score.
Some people believe that owing no money, having no credit cards, and in fact avoiding the
whole world of credit will help improve their credit score. The opposite is true – lenders want to
see that you can handle credit, and the only way they can tell is if you have credit that you handle
responsibly. Having no credit at all can actually be worse for your credit score than having a few
credit accounts that you pay off scrupulously. If you currently have no credit accounts at all,
opening a low balance credit card can actually boost your credit score.
Tip #18: Never do anything illegal to help boost your credit score.
It seems pretty obvious, but plenty of people try to lie about their credit scores or even falsify
their loan applications because they are ashamed of a bad score. Not only is this illegal, but it is
also completely ineffective. Your credit score is easy to check and not only will you not fool
lenders by lying but you may actually find yourself facing legal action as a result of your
dishonesty.
Dealing With Your Credit Report to Deal With Your Credit Score
If you want to improve your credit score, you need to go right to the source – your credit report.
Your credit report contains the information and data on which your credit score is based. If you
can alter or update the information in your credit report, your credit score will change to reflect
the alterations. For this reason, getting and checking you credit report is one of the first things
you should do when you attempt to repair your credit score. There are a few tips that can help
you deal with your credit report so that you can give your credit score a boost:
Tip #19: Dispute errors on your credit report
Contact each of the three major credit bureaus – TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian – and get
copies of your credit reports and credit scores. Carefully read over the reports and note any
errors. In writing, contact the credit bureaus and ask that mistakes be removed or investigated.
This is called a dispute letter and once it is received, credit bureaus have to investigate your
dispute within thirty days of receiving your letter. It is important to keep a copy of your letter
and it is important to note the date the letter was sent. You should not be accusatory or abusive
in your letter – calmly and clearly state the problem and request an investigation.
Note that you are aware the agency is required to investigate the claim within thirty days and
note that you will follow up. Be sure that you do follow up with the issues you raised in your
letter – just because the agency investigates does not always mean that your credit report will end
up error-free.
Many credit bureaus now make it possible for you to correct errors on your credit report online –
and many have information on their web sites that tells you exactly how disputes must be
handled to be effectively removed. It is important that you follow this information exactly so
that the inaccuracies on your credit report are removed promptly and your credit score is updated
as soon as possible.
Tip #20: Add a note to your credit report if there is a problem you can’t resolve
Sometimes, there are legitimate reasons why you didn’t pay a bill. If a contractor refused to
finish a job or did a poor job, then you may have refused payment, but the non-payment may still
count against you on your credit report. If there are any unusual circumstances surrounding your
credit report that may affect your credit rating – such as a case of identity theft – you can ask that
a note be attached to your credit report to explain the problem.
Some lenders will pay attention to this and some will not, but it is a better solution than nothing
at all. Such a note will not affect your credit score but will affect your credit report. More
importantly, it leaves a paper trail of the problem that lenders can look at if they choose.
Tip #21: Make sure you know who is looking at your credit report and why
Many inquiries look bad on your credit report, but more than that you likely want to know who
can see your personal financial information, now that you know that your personal information is
stored in a credit report. If you sign a document with a lender or apply for credit online, you can
be sure that someone is looking at your credit report.
However, you may want to look over other documents in order to see who is taking a peek.
Insurance agents will often look at your credit report, for example. Some landlords and potential
employers will, too. You need to be careful about online sources, too. In general, when you
provide someone with your social insurance number, you may be giving permission to look at
your credit report. You shouldn’t bar people from looking, but knowing who is looking is good
financial practice.
Tip #22: Know the difference between soft and hard inquiries
When you pull your credit report to look at it, it is counted as a “soft inquiry.” Only “hard
inquiries” from lenders will affect your credit score dramatically. Although checking your credit
score too often is an expensive habit, you should not avoid checking your credit report because
you fear it will make your credit rating worse.
Tip #23: Contact creditors as well as credit bureaus when correcting inaccuracies in your
credit report
When debtors find mistakes on their credit report, they often only contact the credit bureaus.
While this is the most effective way to resolve the issue, you should in some cases contact the
creditors whose account has caused a ding on your credit report. This can help future dings and
resolve problems faster.
Consider an example: Let’s say that you were late sending a credit card payment two months ago
because you were sick. The late payment is listed as a ding on your credit report even though
you have paid it already. You should contact the credit bureau in order to get the error removed.
However, if you notice that the same credit card company has you listed as having late payments
three months when you paid on time, then it is time to contact the credit company and ask how to
resolve the problem.
The information reported about you to credit bureaus should be accurate – if it is not, then the
credit company should work to make sure that they correct the problem so that it does not
happen again. You have an advantage in this – the credit company, unlike the credit bureau,
depends on your business for their money.
This means that the credit company (or any other bill company presenting inaccurate information
about you) is well motivated to correct the problem or risk losing you as a client.
If you find that a company consistently reports inaccurate information about you to credit
bureaus, consider making a formal complaint to the company about it or switch companies.
There is no reason why one company’s poor organization should cost you your good credit score.
Tip #24: Look out where you get your credit report – and what it contains
You can get your credit score from any number of resources. One place you can get it from is
from credit bureaus themselves. You can pay for the service, but you qualify for one free credit
report a year or qualify for a free credit report if you have recently been turned down for credit or
if you think you may have been the victim of identity theft.
If you can, get a copy of your free credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus. If
you can’t get a free credit report, you should still try to get one, even if costs a few dollars. The
savings you will enjoy on your loan rates when you improve your credit score will more than pay
for the cost of the reports.
There are a number of online companies that offer free online credit reports. These offers are
very attractive because you get an online report without having to wait for a report to be sent to
you, and you often can get several reports from the different credit bureaus at once, which can
save you time.
However, these online companies vary widely, so you will want to compare a few different firms
before choosing one. You will also need to read the online company’s agreement very carefully
– some promise free credit reports only with the purchase of a credit repair program or some
other kit. In some cases, you can decline the offer and still get the report but in other cases you
cannot.
Buyer beware.
Also, some companies will offer you free credit reports that are really a combination of reports
from the three major credit bureaus. This is not useful, since you will want to compare each of
the three credit bureau reports and fix each credit score separately. You will want to look out for
online companies that offer credit reports that are very condensed and you will want to avoid
companies that will spam you (send you unsolicited emails) trying to get you to subscribe to
some service. Always read carefully to see whether the free credit report offer is legitimate.
That said, there are a number of online companies that offer credit reports and credit scores at no
charge and these can be a useful way for you to start your credit repair, especially if you are
comfortable around computers.
If you don’t qualify for a free credit report from the credit bureaus, a legitimate online company
may be your best bet of getting your credit information so that you can start repairing your credit
risk rating.
You do qualify for one free credit report per year. You can get this credit report through email at
http://www.annualcreditreport.com or by calling 877_322_8228.
You can also ask for your free credit report by mail by sending a letter to Annual Credit Report
Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348_5281 or by filling out the form available
at the Federal Trade Commission’s Web site at:
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/credit/docs/fact_act_request_form.pdf.
No matter where you get your credit score and credit report, make sure that you get the most
complete information package you can. Credit reports are not very exciting or even easy to read.
If you are ordering your report online, look for one that includes graphs or lots of details that are
easy to understand.
Make sure that you get both your credit report and your credit score – even if you have to pay
extra. If you get just your report, you will not be able to follow the secret and complicated math
formulas used to arrive at your score and the report itself will not make as much financial sense
to you if you don’t have your score in front of you, as well.
When you do get your credit report you will notice that it contains lots if information about you,
including:
1) Your personal and contact information. This will include your name and your address, as well
as your past several addresses, your social insurance number, your employers (past and present)
and your birth date.
2) Your personal information about credit. A credit report notes all the details of your loans,
including the types of loans you have now and have recently had, the dates these loans were
opened, the credit limit on each loan, how well you have been repaying those loans (this is
important – skipped or late payments count heavily against you in your credit score), and who
your lenders are.
3) Information about you that is on the public record. This may include bankruptcies, unpaid
taxes, unpaid child support, tax liens, your dealings with collection agencies, foreclosures, loan
defaults, civil lawsuits that you have been involved in, and other information. Much of this will
stay on your credit report and will seriously affect your credit score.
4) Information about who has looked at your credit report and credit score. Every time that
someone looks at your credit score it is called an “inquiry.” Your credit report lists who has
looked at your credit report in the past two years and how often you have applied for loans and
credit in that period of time. Too many inquiries tends to look bad and tends to affect your credit
score.
When you get your credit report, it is important that you look at all parts of your credit report and
understand what you are reading. Mistakes in any area of your credit report can affect your
score, so be sure to check the entire report for inaccuracies and errors.
Dealing With a Credit Score after a Big Problem
Big, bad problems can happen to you – bankruptcies, divorces, law suits, non-payment of taxes.
These are big problems that can affect your credit score in as big way. If you have faced a large
problem that has ruined your credit, you need to take action fast and work consistently to boost
your FICO score:
Tip #25: If you have bad credit, establish better credit by taking out credit and repaying it
quickly
If you have terrible credit following a bankruptcy or other major financial upheaval, you may
need to get back into a good credit rating by taking out a loan you can handle. Make an
appointment to see your bank or bad credit lender a few months or years after the problem in
question and arrange for a small loan.
You should have enough savings to pay for the loan before you do this. Pay back the loan
quickly. It will not hugely boost your credit score but it will show lenders that you are having an
easier time paying your bills. Taking out a small loan you can repay is part of the slow process
of reestablishing good credit following a big financial problem.
Tip #26: Try secured credit if you cannot qualify for other types of credit
Secured credit is credit or a loan which uses something as collateral. In some cases, this could be
an asset like a house. In some cases, this collateral could be money frozen in an account by the
bank for just such a purchase.
If you need credit following a big problem with your credit score, secured credit may be
something you can qualify for. You can use this secured credit to reestablish a good credit rating
so that you will qualify for other loans in the future. You may have to pay slightly higher
interest if your credit score is quite low, but in the long term repaying this type of loan can
improve your credit score.
Tip #27: Give it time
Many people believe that simply paying off debts will improve their credit score at once. This is
not true, unfortunately. If you have experienced a bankruptcy, have been reported to a collection
agency, or have had charge-offs, the record will remain on your credit report – even after you
have repaid your debts and resolved the problem.
In fact, major problems such as a bankruptcy will remain on your credit report for seven or ten
years, affecting your credit score. Even if your credit problems stem from simply not paying
bills on time, it will take some time for the mark to fade from your credit report and for your
credit score to reflect your better repayment.
Paying off your debts and resolving problems will help your credit score (since overdue accounts
will be marked as “paid” on your credit report), but only time will remove the mark of the
problems from your record entirely.
This means that if you have faced a major setback such as a bankruptcy, you may have to wait in
order to get the best interest rates on larger purchases. The good news is that the further away
you are from a major financial problem, the less dire it appears.
For example, if you have declared bankruptcy, you can expect it to have a huge impact on your
credit score for the first two years, during which time you will have a hard time getting any
credit at all.
However, after two or three years, if you have been paying your bills on time, then the
bankruptcy from two years ago will matter less because you have been rebuilding your credit.
Your credit will still suffer – but you will slowly be starting to work your way out of the credit
problem. Persistence and good financial habits will get you there.
This means that if you plan on making a major purchase (such as a house of car) that may require
a loan, you should start working on improving your credit well in advance – even years in
advance – of your actual purchase. This is because you simply will not have enough time to
radically alter your credit score in time if you wait too long.
Even if your credit score is already fairly good, you may need to give yourself several months of
time to boost your credit rating enough to get the best loan rates.
Tip #28: Contact your banks and ask credit limits to be reduced.
If your credit risk rating is poor, and especially if it has taken a beating lately due to nonpayments
or other problems, you can ask that your bank reduce the credit limits on your credit
cards, credit lines, and other debts. You should do this if:
1) You can pay off at least 50% of your debt loads as they are readjusted. For example, if you
have a credit limit of $5000 on your credit card and get it reduced to $2500, you should make
sure that you can leave a balance of $1250 or less. If you owe $4000 and have no way of
repaying it, getting your credit limit reduced can actually hurt you. On the other hand, if you
need to get a larger loan and can pay off your credit card in full and reduce your limit to $2500,
you may be able to improve your credit score in this way.
2) You have lots of credit. If you have several types of debts and credit accounts – lines of credit,
credit cards, store charge cards, a mortgage, a car loan, and a personal line of credit – you may be
close to overextending your credit, especially if each of these accounts is fairly large. You can’t
always close down your accounts – especially if you are still paying your debts off – but reducing
the limit may make you eligible for a loan should you need it.
3) You have some credit but you don’t want to close your accounts entirely because you have not
had credit for very long. Sometimes, if you have several types of credit, it is not wise to close
them, even if you can, since lenders like to see long-term relationships with lenders. Reducing
the limits can make monthly payments more affordable and can actually give you a bigger credit
boost than closing long-standing credit accounts.
4) You will not be taking out a loan very soon. In the short term, reducing your credit limits may
actually lower your credit rating because your balances will make up a larger portion of a smaller
credit, but in the long run smaller charge accounts will actually boost your credit score by
making repayment of loans easier and by making you further from overextending your credit.
Tip #29: Start repairing your credit right away after a big financial upset.
A big financial problem is an emotional as well as a monetary burden. Plenty of debtors feel so
terrible about their financial problems and so uncertain about their money that they go into deep
denial, refusing to think or work on their financial problems. This is likely to only make the
problem worse.
Everybody suffers from financial difficulties once in a while and every professional in the field
of finance – from loan managers to bankers – knows this. Plus, financial professionals – including
lenders – want your business and so are willing to work with you to help you solve your
problems.
If you have had a financial problem, or are even headed towards one, start working on repairing
the situation right away. If your credit is suffering because you have not paid some bills, for
example, don’t make it worse by waiting until you are reported to a collection agency (by which
time your credit rating will have taken an even worse hit). Instead, work on paying off your bills
or arranging a payment schedule right away.
Tips #30: Consider co-signing for loans – but consider well before taking the leap.
If you have very poor credit scores following a bankruptcy or other disaster but need to get a
loan, consider getting a co-signer. If your co-signer has assets or a better credit record, you may
qualify for a better loan rate.
However, be wary – if your co-signer refuses to make payments, then both of you will suffer the
credit fallout. Co-signers share responsibility for loans and credit – both of you will have worse
credit scores if one of you does not pay.
On the other hand, if your cosigner has good credit and makes payments, then the co-signed loan
can actually boost your credit score.
Tip #31: Don’t overlook bankruptcy.
A bankruptcy will affect your credit score more than just about anything. Worse, it will affect it
for many years. In the first few years after a bankruptcy, you may not be able to get loans at all.
In short, a bankruptcy is a legal proceeding that either forgives you of your debts or allows you
to pay off just a small fraction of your debt. It will nearly ruin your credit rating at first, but it
will also allow you to dig out from overwhelming debt and reestablish a good credit rating again
after years. A bankruptcy will no longer show up on your credit report after ten years.
If you are very seriously in debt and have no way of repaying your bills, a bankruptcy can help
you by stopping collection call agencies and other problems. Also, if you have been very
negligent in paying your large debts, your credit rating has already likely suffered greatly.
While a bankruptcy will depress it even further, at least it will give you the chance to repair your
credit by giving you a “clean slate” free from large debts.
Tip #32: Don’t choose bankruptcy as an easy out.
Bankruptcy is a serious credit problem – it is not just a “ding” on your credit report – it is a huge
red flag to lenders. After a bankruptcy, you will be ineligible for credit cards, many types of
credit and will even be told what you can and cannot buy. The procedure of bankruptcy can also
be draining. Bankruptcy should only be chosen as a last option if you really require your debts
to be forgiven because you have no way of repaying them.
Tip #33: Learn from your mistakes.
Everyone makes some credit mistakes sooner or later – it is very rare for someone to go through
their entire lives without at least a few dings on their credit risk record. Don’t beat yourself up
over your mistakes – even if they are large ones. Instead, learn from your mistakes by analyzing
them. Think of your credit mistakes as clues which can help you in the future to avoid the same
problems:
-Do you develop credit problems because you overspend while shopping?
-Are you so disorganized that you forget to pay bills?
-Are your bills simply too large for your current income?
-Do you routinely get overcharged for things and fail to notice until much later?
Knowing what your mistakes are and finding solutions to the problems can go a long way
towards helping you develop a good credit risk rating.
Dealing With Professional Credit Help
Credit repair is big business, and there are many companies that will promise to help you get out
of bad credit problems. There are a number of legitimate resources that can help you in
improving your credit score but there are also a number of less than reputable companies out
there that will take your money but offer you few (if any) valuable services. A few basic tips
will help you see the difference:
Tip #34: Seek professional help
If you are in over your head, and your credit is so bad that you cannot get a loan and may even
be facing bankruptcy, you may want to seek help from professionals. There are a number of
financial professionals that can help you with credit repair:
Bankruptcy lawyers and bankruptcy advisors
: Bankruptcy lawyers can help represent you in
bankruptcy proceedings. Advisors can help you decide whether to apply for a bankruptcy and
how to proceed once you do decide to file.
While getting a bankruptcy lawyer and filing for bankruptcy can be upsetting and can
dramatically affect your credit score for many years, it can also give you a chance to start over
financially and can help you reestablish good credit again in the long run.
Credit repair companies and credit counseling companies
: These companies can help you by
acting on your behalf with credit companies, by advising you on what you can do to repay your
bills faster, and by helping you make better financial decisions.
Accountants and tax services
: Accountants and tax filing services can help you make the most
of your money by making sure that you do not end up overspending on taxes.
Bankers and bank officers
: Most banks today want to not only help you keep your money but
are willing to work with you to make the most of it. As a banking service, many banks today
offer free investing advice, saving advice, and personalized meetings with bank officers that can
help you figure out your money situation.
Lenders and bad credit lenders
: How you deal with lenders will determine how well your
credit score works. Avoiding too many inquiries by not applying for too many loans, establishing
long-term business relationships with bankers, and doing business with bankers in an organized
and professional way (i.e. paying your debts on time) will go a long way towards giving you a
credit rating. In turn, a good credit rating will make it easier to deal with lenders.
Tip #35: Look out for credit repair companies.
Many companies out there advertise that they can help you with credit repair, but the quality of
these services – not to mention what they offer – varies widely. Some companies really can help
you with credit repair while others are actually under investigation for suspect business practices.
If you decide to seek help from a credit repair company, be sure that the company is legitimate
and offers you viable services.
Che
ck to make sure that the company has good standing with the Better Business Bureau and
clients who are happy with the credit repair services they received from the company. Always
read the paperwork carefully before you sign and make sure that you understand how much you
are paying for and how much you are paying.
Before deciding to seek help from a credit help or credit counseling service, be sure that the
problem cannot be resolved on your own. Indications that you may need credit counseling
include:
-You cannot pay your bills and avoid the necessities of life.
-You avoid the phone, the mail, and the door because you are being harassed by collection
agencies.
-You have avoided going out because you feel terrible about your financial state.
-You have no idea how you will repay your bills and loans – you do not know where to start.
Tip #36: Seek free or inexpensive help before seeking paid credit repair help
If you need credit repair, odds are good that your finances aren’t in the best possible shape.
Before seeking credit repair services,
follow the tips in this ebook in order to repair your own credit.
Tip # 37: It will be easier for financial experts to help you if you seek credit repair help
sooner rather than later
If you do decide to seek credit repair help from the experts, it makes sense to seek that help
before your financial situation spirals too far out of control. After all, credit repair experts can
do little for you if your credit and financial situation is so bad that the only option left to you is
bankruptcy.
Tip #38: Look out for credit repair scams
There are a number of credit repair scams out there. These scams often promise to help free you
of bad credit, when in reality the “experts” offering these services will either overcharge you,
involve you in illegal activity, or actually put you in a worse financial situation. Look out for
these most common scams:
1) Credit repair companies that tell you to lie on loan applications or suggest that you develop a
second identity. This is illegal and dishonest. If a company suggests that you open accounts in a
new name or falsify your information on loan applications, run, don’t walk, away.
You can be charged with fraud for doing this – and you will be held responsible for your actions,
even if you were acting under the company’s advisement. You certainly don’t want to add legal
troubles to your credit woes.
2) Credit repair companies that charge you fees or hidden fees for things you could do for free
yourself – such as work out a budget. Also be wary of companies that ask for money up front.
3) Credit repair companies that promise to pay your creditors from money you pay to them and
which they keep in an escrow account. This is a common scam and it presents a huge problem
for the debtor.
Here’s how it works: the debtor gives money to the credit repair company, presumably for
paying off debts. The company places the money in an escrow account where it grows. The idea
is that the company will eventually pay off your debts when the amount reached in the account
matches the debts. The problem is that in the meantime, the credit repair company is removing
some money from the account for administrative fees while creditors are becoming more and more
anxious, increasing the interest on the debts and even starting legal action against the debtor. This
type of “credit help” can actuall ruin your credit rating
!
4) Credit repair companies that pressure you, don’t listen to you, or want you to sign a contract you
have not read. Such companies are not to be trusted and should be left well enough alone.
Refuse to do business with credit help companies that use this practice.
Tip #38: Get a good team on your side to help you with your credit score
A good team of professionals can help you get your credit score back in shape. Your most
important member of your team is yourself – you are the one with the financial agency and (with
this ebook) the knowledge to become your own best advocate in credit repair. Besides this, you
may want to check with your local library for financial help books. You may also want to
include
financial experts such as credit counselors or others to help you. If you decide to seek a team of
experts to help, be sure that you check each person’s credential, standing with the Better Business
Bureau, and past clients to make sure that the person or company can really help you. Beyond
this, make sure that you sign a contract or agreement with each professional member of your
team.
Tip #39: Your bank has good and reliable credit information
One free and professional source of credit information is your bank. Your banking officer may
be able to offer you a great deal of professional, free advice, especially as banks are trying harder
and harder to provide good personal services to customers.
Your bank may also have a number of credit solutions – such as overdraft protection – that can
help you keep your credit in good repair. Banks are realizing more and more that many of their
clients are dealing with less than ideal credit. Banks are trying to meet the demands of this new
group and can actually be a powerful ally for those who are trying to improve their credit.
General Good Financial Habits Build Good Credit Scores
Your credit score in some ways is meant to be a snapshot of your overall financial habits –
especially your habits surrounding debts and other financial responsibilities. Developing some
good financial habits can help your credit score by putting you in a good financial position.
Good financial habits will ensure that you don’t get into too much debt and that you are able to
meet your financial duties easily. There are a few financial habits that are especially creditfriendly:
Tip #40: Learn to budget
One of the biggest reasons that people develop poor credit is overspending. In many cases, this
overspending is caused by a lack of budget. A budget can tell you how much you should be
spending on each item in your life. This allows your financial life to stay nicely organized.
Contrary to popular belief, a budget does not have to be constricting or boring or complicated.
Simply note how much you earn each month, and on a piece of paper, write down how much you
really need to spend on savings, rent, utilities, food, personal care, transportation, spending
money, entertainment, hobbies, education, and other items. Make sure that you account for
every expense.
Then, simply commit yourself to spending that particular amount on each item on your list. Of
course, some expenses on your list will change each month – you may spend more on heating
bills in the winter than in the summer, for example – but estimating can help ensure that you can
meet all your financial responsibilities.
Tip #41: Live within your means
Many people believe that if they only had more money, they would not have to worry about
credit. In fact, this is not true. Many people who have money – or at least have all the trappings
of money, including cars and nice homes – in fact have terrible credit.
The secret of this is that it is not your income that decides whether you are a good credit risk or a
bad one but rather how you handle money. You could be earning $7 per hour and still paying
your bills and meeting your financial responsibilities – in which case you will have terrific credit.
You could also be earning $300 000 a year and be in terrible debt and financial shape due to
unpaid bills and excessive debt. The best way to ensure that you have a good credit rating – no
matter what your income – is to spend less than you earn. That means living below your means.
If you have a very small income, you may need to live with roommates in order to keep costs
down. If you have a medium-sized income, that may mean saving more and entertaining less.
You may be interested to note that your income is not a factor in determining your credit score.
Although your past and current employers are listed on your credit report – and although lenders
may be able to guess your financial status from your loan amounts – your income does not count.
This means that if you won the lottery today or suddenly inherited a large sum, your credit score
would not increase. With your credit rating, what matters is how you manage your money, not
how much you make.
Tip #42: Get out of the spending habit
We are surrounded with advertisements that tell us to buy, buy, buy. When we want to read a
book, we buy it. When we want to go somewhere, we take a cab or drive rather than walking.
Stopping spending consciously can be hard, but heading to your local library, walking instead of
taking a car, buying a used computer instead of a new one – all can help you spend less and save
more. There are several ways you can save money and pay off your debts faster by spending less:
1) When you head out, carry a small amount of cash with you and leave your credit cards at
home. That way, you will not be able to overspend.
2) Stop catalogs from arriving at your house or discard them unread – advertisements and
catalogues encourage you to spend and buy when you don’t need to.
3) Do it yourself. Eat in rather than dining out. Dining at restaurants or getting food delivered is
always more expensive than doing your own cooking. Also, do your own taxes rather than
farming the job out to someone else. Wash your own car, run your own errands, mow your own
lawn. When you do something yourself, you spend less.
4) Watch less television. It sounds strange, but television can make you overspend – television
contains many professionally-created advertisements pushing us to spend and spend. These ads
are so well done that not spending after watching them is sometimes very difficult (just what
advertisers want!). Switching off your television can help you avoid temptation.
5) Make do or do without. While you are repairing your credit, channel all your extra money
into paying off debts and reestablishing good credit. Make so with what you have and avoid
shopping as much as possible.
6) Buy discount or used. Whether it is furniture or shoes, you can save money by refusing to pay
retail price.
Saving your money by spending less can let you pay off your debts faster, something that can
improve your credit score dramatically.
Tip #43: Save
One of the best ways to ensure that your credit rating stays good is to save money each month.
Whether you are able to save $25 a month or $200 or even more, saving and investing your
savings will prepare you for financial emergencies, will get you out of overspending, and will
allow you to build investments that can help you in later years.
With savings at your bank, you don’t have to worry that sudden illness will make you unable to
pay your bills, resulting in dings on your credit.
Saving ten percent of your income is a nice, reasonable goal. You can use your invested savings
to make certain that your debts never get overwhelming. Most employers and banks will even
deduct a certain amount of money from your paycheck or account each month to be put into
investments.
This can be a very convenient way to save, as you are unlikely to miss or spend money you have
taken out before you can get your hands on it.
Tip #44: Keep track of your money
Most people are surprised by how quickly their money seems to be spent. This is because
impulse spending and small-change spending really adds up. Small-change spending is small
spending we do without even thinking about it – buying a coffee or a newspaper we don’t need.
Impulse spending refers to simply buying things we don’t use or need. In both cases, we end up
spending too much unnecessarily, and this is a problem in credit repair because you want to be
channeling as much money as you can into savings and debt repayment so that you can repair
your credit.
For a month, try keeping a daily record of every penny you spend – including the money you
spend on phones, the money you spend on tips, everything. You will be amazed where your
money goes. Keeping track of your money this way does two things:
1) It automatically cuts down on spending. If you have to write down where you spend your
money, you will be much more careful what you spend your money on.
2) It allows you to see where you waste your money and take steps to stop the bad habit. If you
notice that you always buy the newspaper on Saturday but never read it, for example, you can
stop buying the paper on that day. Small savings can add up over the years and can put you in
good financial shape which will be reflected in your credit risk rating.
Tip #45: Take out one pleasure and save it up
-Do you have cable?
-Do you subscribe to lots of magazines?
-Do you build your DVD collection so fast that you can’t even watch all the movies you collect?
We all entertain ourselves with money, but most of us have at least one or two entertainments
that we have either outgrown or don’t enjoy as much as we once did. Cutting that expense out
and investing the savings can put us well on our way to saving for retirement or paying off our
bills. If you give up your cable television, for example, you can pay off your credit cards that
much faster, improving your credit score.
Tip #46: Build assets and capital
Whether it is buying a car, a home, or creating an investment portfolio, having assets can help
improve your credit score by allowing you take out secured credit, or credit in which your assets
are used as collateral.
When you take out secured credit (such as a mortgage) you enjoy lower interest rates and easier
approval. As you repay your secured debt, your credit score will improve. Even better, lenders
do look at the types of credit you have. If you have a mix of secured and unsecured credit, you
will enjoy better risk rating scores as it will indicate that you have the means to repay your debts.
Building assets and capital is also a way of building financial stability which can help protect
your credit score. If you have assets such as savings or investments, then you have a way of
generating income or repaying debts in case of an emergency. You also have ready money you
can use in case of unexpected medical bills or other problems.
Tip #47: Find more ways to income
While you are repairing your credit, you will want to channel as much money as you can into
savings and debt repayment. For this, having a second income or even just a few hundred dollars
a month more can mean that you get your credit into shape faster.
Having a secondary form of income can also keep your credit safe – if you lose your job, you can
use the money you make from a secondary source to repay your bills until you find another form
of employment.
There are many ways to get more income:
-You can ask your employer for a raise.
-You can start to sell something through the Internet or through a company.
-You can establish your own small business that can be tended to on the side.
-You can rent out part of your home to make some extra money.
-You can get a part-time or weekend job.
Whatever you do, finding an alternate source of income can help your credit immensely.
Tip #48: Prepare for financial emergencies
Few of us think about what would happen if we lost our jobs or suddenly became too ill to work.
The thought is simply too terrible to contemplate in many cases, especially if we are living
paycheck to paycheck with a job as it is.
The fact is, though, that financial emergencies happen to almost everyone at some point and they
can have devastating impact in your credit. In fact, most people who declare bankruptcy do so
because of a huge financial disaster such as sudden unemployment, huge medical bills, a lawsuit,
or divorce. Despite this, few people plan for these problems, even though they can happen to
anyone.
If you want to keep your credit score in good trim, you should know exactly what you would do
in case of an emergency. Developing an actual written plan can help you by letting you take
action to save your credit as soon as an emergency occurs. Some items that could be on your
financial emergency plan could include:
1) A list of all assets you could liquidate if you had to.
2) A list of all extras or luxuries you could cut out of your life right away if there was a problem
(i.e. newspaper subscriptions, cable television, water delivery service, Friday nights at the
movies).
3) A list of any resources you have that could help you in case of an emergency. Maybe you
know a lawyer who deals in financial facets of the law. Maybe you have insurance that could
help you. Maybe your employer offers a severance package. Whatever it is, write it down.
Keeping a list of these resources will make them easier to access in case of an emergency.
4) Other ways you could get money if you had to – jobs you could take, things you could rent out
to others.
Tip #49: Get overdraft protection, insurance on your credit cards, or other services to keep
your credit in good shape
Talk to your bank and lenders about services they offer to keep you safe. Overdraft protection,
for example, is a basic service that often costs nothing or very little extra but which protects you
in case you withdraw too much money from your bank account.
With overdraft protection, you do not get a “ding” on your credit report or a charge for
insufficient funds. In most cases, you get a day or two to add more money to the account to
cover the gap. Some credit cards and other loans offer a similar service or offer insurance which
protects you in case you lose your job and are unable to pay for a few months.
Tip #50: Get insurance
Insurance for health, your car, your home, and for liability can help you avoid the huge legal and
medical bills that can occur from an accident or sudden problem. For a small monthly fee, you
are covered against unexpected events that can drain your finances and leave you with out-of
control debt.
Tip #51: Get a prenuptial agreement and have a lawyer go over all your business contracts
Most bankruptcies are caused by the fallout that occurs as a result of business failures, law suits,
health costs, and divorces. Getting a prenuptial agreement helps to ensure that a divorce will not
adversely affect your finances and lead to a ruined credit rating (keeping accounts separate while
married is also a good idea, as your spouse’s own financial troubles can all too easily become
your own). Having a lawyers look over contracts can at least reduce the risks of unfavorable
agreements that can put you at a disadvantage in business.
Think Like a Lender
If you think like a lender, you can see which habits and traits you need to develop in order to be
considered a good credit risk. Thinking like a lender will help you understand how you must
manage your money to be appealing to lenders. There are few tips that can put you into the right
mind set:
Tip #52: Know how money works
Reading books about money and understanding how your accounts and loans work can go a long
way towards helping you keep your credit in good repair. For example, if you know that some
loans will charge you extra if you pay off your loan faster while others will not, you will be in a
batter position to make financial decisions.
Plus, the more you know about money in general, the more comfortable you will feel with it and
the better decisions you will be able to make, which will help improve your overall financial
state and will help you keep your credit in good shape.
You don’t need to do heavy-duty research to appreciate how money works. One easy way to
consider money is to think of it the way you think of time. You likely hate to waste time and you
want to make the best use of it possible. Apply the same attitudes to your financial life and
watch your finances soar!
If overspending has caused you to have a bad credit score, consider the following sneaky mind
set trick: equate your money with your time. For example, if you make twenty dollars an hour,
then a magazine subscription of $20 will represent one hour of your work.
Imagine an hour of your work and ask yourself whether the subscription is worth the time you
put into the twenty dollars. Once you start seeing money as something that comes from your
hard work rather than a general “thing” impulse spending will seem much less attractive, and it
will be easier to keep your credit card limits low and you bank account stocked up with cash!
Tip #53: Take care of those things besides a credit score that affect how lenders view you
Lenders will often look at not only your credit score but at other financial indicators, such as
your income, employment record, and savings. Keeping these things in order can complement
your credit score and can help you get good overall credit. Some lenders have their own ways of
calculating credit scores, so keeping your overall financial system in good shape is one way to
ensure that you are in good shape in all lenders’ eyes.
Be aware that when lender ask to see your credit score, the credit bureaus send not only your
credit score, but also the top four reasons why your credit score is lowered. The most common
reasons for lowered credit scores are:
1) Serious delinquency in repaying accounts or bills.
2) Public record of bankruptcy, civil judgment, or report to a collection agency
3) Recent unpaid or late paid debts or accounts
4) Short-term credit record
5) Lots of new accounts
6) Many accounts have late payments, defaults, or non-payments
7) Large debts or amounts owed.
Knowing that your lender sees these possible problems can help you see the need to develop the
best possible face to present to a lender. Lenders who look at your entire credit report may get a
more positive picture of you than lenders who see only a number and four reasons for a lower
score.
Tip #54: Follow up on closed accounts
You closed a store card years ago – but is it still listed as an open account? Bureaucratic mix-ups
happen, often quite frequently. If you want to keep your credit score good, you need to follow
up on financial details.
Whenever you close an account – whether it’s a credit account, bank account, or utility company
account, make sure that you get written confirmation that the account is closed and paid in full
and then follow up a few months later with the company to confirm the closed account. This
simple precaution can save you hours of frustration – not to mention a lowered credit score.
Tip #55: Don’t move around a lot
Lenders like to see stability – it suggests stability in financial matters as well as in your life, and
makes you a better credit risk. Plus, every time you move, you may have to change your credit
information – including switching banks. This actually negatively affects your credit score by
not allowing you to develop long-term relationships with lenders.
Remember: Your current and past addresses are listed on your credit report even if they do not
directly affect your credit score. Any lender looking at your full credit report will be pleased to
see that you create a stable life for yourself. Not moving too frequently can also save you money
on moving costs, which can add up quite quickly.
Tip #56: Don’t change jobs frequently
Of course, there will be times when you will have to change jobs. However, avoiding changing
jobs unnecessarily will help improve your credit score by allowing you to stay in one place and
build a steady financial situation.
Your credit report also shows your current and past jobs – if a lender sees that you change jobs
frequently, he or she may wonder whether you have the life stability required to handle debt
responsibilities. Also, the lender cannot see why you left a job. If there are many employers
listed on your credit report, the lender may wonder whether you have not been fired from jobs
and whether that is an indication that you will be unable to pay your debts due to unemployment
at some point in the future.
A lender makes their money by the interest charged on a loan. If you default on a loan, you
cause the lender to lose money. Above all, the lender wants to see evidence in your credit record
that you have the traits that will make you repay the loan – with interest.
Frequent job changes may indicate – to some lenders – that you will simply disappear with the
money or default on a loan. Having a stable life – including a longer-term job and one place of
residence – may indicate to lenders, on the other hand, that you are building up roots in a place
and so will be unlikely to move and default.
Tip #57: Avoid changing switching credit companies and credit accounts a lot
Credit companies will often offer you special introductory rates, generous free gifts or other
incentives to switch companies. However, you should resist the temptation unless you have a
reasonable reason to switch. Establishing a good credit relationship with one company – having
one credit card from your college days, for example – is a good way to show lenders that you are
a steady sort of person who is likely to take money matters seriously. That is exactly what
lenders want to see. Switching accounts and lenders makes you appear fickle and less than
reliable.
Tip #58: Keep your records up to date
Not knowing what is going on in your own financial life is courting disaster. Keep one file
folder in your home which contains your financial information – and review this periodically. If
something changes in your life – you get married, you start a family, you move or change jobs,
look through your financial folder and contact everyone who needs to be contacted to update
them on the change. This will help make sure that all your creditors have the information they
need about you. Keeping your own records up to date will help you make sure that everyone who
handles your finances is also up-to-date.
Tip #59: Always be sure that your creditors know your current address
If you move and forget to inform all your creditors of your new address, you may not get all your
bills, making you look like a deadbeat debtor and making your credit score plummet. Make sure
that you either close your credit accounts or get your new address and contact information to
your creditors.
When you move, make sure that you inform credit card companies, stores you have credit cards
with, banks, credit unions, and anyone else you do financial business with. Better yet, also
arrange with the post office to have your mail automatically forwarded to you at your new
address. This will ensure that any creditors you may have overlooked will still be able to contact
you – and you will have a second chance to remind them of your address change.
Tip #60: Talk to lenders and creditors
Many people are hesitant to keep an open line of communication with their lenders because they
are embarrassed about their financial state or because they feel unsure about the position.
Lenders can’t read your mind, though. They do not know that you can’t make a payment this
month but will be able to make a double payment next month because of a banking error. They
simply see that you have failed to make a payment – this may indicate a temporary problem or a
decision on your part to default on your loan.
Without your input, your creditors have no way of knowing, and since their profits and money
are at risk, they tend to take the more conservative view and even assume the worst. Keeping the
lines of communication open as soon as a problem develops can help reassure your lenders and
can help your creditors see that you are responsible with their money.
Talking to lenders as soon as a problem develops can be an effective way to prevent a ding on
your credit score that can affect your credit score. For example, if you are giving trouble paying
your bills, you can often work out a more reasonable payment schedule.
In most cases, you will not get a ding on your credit record if you do this because the lender will
have some assurance that your financial obligations will still be met. In fact, one of the things
that most credit repair companies do is to arrange for more reasonable payment schedules. With
a simple phone call, you can do this for yourself for no charge.
Lenders want, above all, to be repaid so that their interest rates can earn them a profit. By
communicating whenever there is a problem and showing that you are willing to work hard to
meet your responsibilities, you show your creditors that they will get their money and this makes
lenders more willing to work with you to ensure that your credit rating is not badly affected by
one missed or late payment. Speaking with your creditors can help establish a good working
relationship that can help keep your credit rating in good shape.
Tip #61: Get lenders to waive late fees and charges
If you have missed some payments or made some late payments, lenders will often charge you a
fee for non-payment. This not only adds insult to injury – you have to pay more on your bills and
get a ding on your credit – but also makes bills more difficult to repay since the bills are now
higher. You can phone the lender and get the charge waived in most cases, though. This is a
secret that credit repair companies have long known and is one of the first services they will
perform on your behalf. You can easily accomplish this for yourself, however, at no cost.
Lenders want to get paid, and if they think that you will pay your bill more quickly by waiving
the late fee, they will most often gladly remove the fee in exchange for prompt payment.
Develop an Organized Strategy to Repair Your Credit Score
Staying organized and on-track is very important when you are trying to boost your credit score,
because there are so many details to follow up on and so many things to remember. A few basic
organization tips can help make sure that you do not overlook anything that can cost you your
good credit score:
Tip # 62: Stay financially organized
Keep all your financial records – including tax records – in one place. Note the days you paid
your bills on the bills themselves. Note how much you owe and where you owe money.
Keeping your financial information in one place allows you to refer to it easily. Seeing all your
financial life in one place also makes it easier for you to see where your credit and your financial
life still needs work.
Some of the information you may want to keep in your financial file includes:
-Bills
-Tax receipts and forms
-Articles and pamphlets about debt
-Your credit reports and scores
-A list of contacts that affect your financial life (such as your bank and credit agencies, for
example)
-Your written emergency plan, detailing what you should do in case of a sudden loss of job or
other problem
-Banking information
-Financial forms
-Investment information
-Deeds to your assets (such as your house)
-Agreements you have signed for loans and other financial services
-A list of your financial goals
-Insurance forms
You may want to buy a box and keep your separate information in different labeled folders (tax
information together, for example, and bills in another folder) for easy referencing. Whatever
system you use, you will find it much easier to manage your finances – and your credit – if you
don’t have to hunt for random pieces of paper.
Tip #63: Set short-term goals and do frequent credit self-checks in order to track your
progress
Credit repair takes time and effort. Some days, it will seem that you are getting no closer to a
better credit score at all. In order to keep track of your progress and in order to keep going
forward, you need to set goals and keep track of what you are doing.
For example, setting a goal such as “I will improve my credit score” is far too broad. Set smaller
goals, such as “I will talk to my bank about budgeting this week” or “I will pay off half my credit
card bill by next month.” These goals work better because they are manageable and have a builtin
deadline.
Writing your goals on a calendar or planner you look at everyday will motivate you to keep
working on your credit repair and will keep you making the small steps that can lead to better
credit. If you review how far you have come each month or week, you can really keep track of
your progress and see how much you still have to do.
Tip #64: Take care of the details when applying for credit or for a credit report
Little things make a big difference. Misquoting your social insurance number or using a slightly
different name (Jane Doe Smith instead of Jane Smith) can make a big difference, since credit
bureaus can count the two names as different people. Making sure that you fill out each financial
form accurately and in the same way can go a long way in ensuring that there are no mistakes in
identity that can affect your credit score.
Tip #65: Don’t make the mistake of thinking that small differences in credit scores or loan
interest rates won’t make a big impact
A few points on a credit score can mean the difference between a lender offering you a prime
rate reserved for the best credit risks and the worse interest rate offered to less than prime
customers. This may amount to only a few percentages in different loan rates, but this can make
a huge impact, especially on a large purchase. For example, a few percentage points on a longterm
fixed-rate loan can mean the difference between tens of thousands of dollars saved – or tens
of thousands of dollars overspent.
It is in your best interest to boost your credit score by every percentage point you can and to fight
for the very lowest interest rate loans you can. After all, if you have larger payments each month
due to a higher interest rate than you deserve, it will be harder for you to repay your bills. Also,
you will qualify for fewer loans if you have higher-than-needed interest rates, as you will be able
to afford fewer of the larger monthly payments.
Tip#66: If you need to repair your credit, stay organized with a to-do list that ensures you
won’t forget anything
As you can likely tell by now, credit repair is not one magical solution but rather lots of
relatively small things you can do to help repair your credit. To make sure that you don’t over
look any one thing, you may want to develop a to do list that you can post and check off.
You may list credit accounts you need to close, accounts you need to pay down, people you need
to contact, and things you need to check out or research. As you tick off each item, you will get
a real sense of accomplishment knowing that you are taking steps to improve your finances.
Keeping a credit repair checklist posted will also keep you on track and let you know what you
still need to do.
Tip #67: Automate your finances
Thanks to automatic bank payments, you can have your bills taken out of your checking account
each month or even charged to your credit card. If you are the sort of person who gets dings on
their credit report because you can never remember to pay your bills on time, this can be a very
useful service.
You can even set up your email service to send you automatic reminders of bills that are due
soon so that you can pay them. This sort of automation is one of the nicer things about high-tech
living and can help you keep your credit score clean if your credit score suffers mainly from your
own forgetfulness or disorganization.
Loans and Your Credit Score
Loans affect your credit score more than almost any other item on your credit report. The types
of loans you have, how long you have had loans, the amounts you owe and your payment history
on your loans has one of the biggest impacts on your credit score. If you can control your loans,
you can boost your credit score. There are a few tips that can get you well on your way to
painlessly managing your loans:
Tip #68: Refinance loans
If you got a poor deal on a loan – especially a major loan such as a car or home loan – or if your
credit rating has improved since you got your loan, you may want to consider refinancing.
Refinancing means that you take your loan to another lender in order to enjoy better terms or
rates.
You don’t want to do this too often – it prevents you from developing long-term relationships
with lenders and results in inquiries on your credit report – but if you have good reasons to
refinance, it can actually help you repay your debts. For example, if you can get more
reasonable monthly bills that you will actually be able to repay, refinancing can help prevent all
those non-payment credit dings that come from not being able to pay your bills. Making your
payments more affordable can save you money and can save your credit score.
In the short term, refinancing can push your credit score down, as you will acquire inquiries on
your credit report as you look for a new lender and as you close old accounts and open new
accounts. In the long term, though, refinancing can be a good way of boosting your credit score.
If you are now missing or delaying payments because you cannot afford monthly bills, for
example, refinancing a loan or two can be a good way to get back on track and can get you
repairing your credit score again.
Tip #69: Look for loans that are offered for bad credit risks
If your credit score is bad but you need a loan, consider services that cater to people with poor
credit scores. These companies know that some creditors with poor credit scores will still make
their payments on time and so are willing to speak with debtors other companies would reject out
of hand. You may have to deal with higher interest rates, but choosing a bad credit lender can go
a long way to ensuring that your credit score won’t disqualify you for a loan.
In the long run, you can always refinance your loan to take advantage of a better rate once your
credit score improves.
Tip #70: Always know your credit score before speaking to lenders
Many people assume that having an excellent credit score is enough when applying for a loan. It
is not. Some lenders are not terribly scrupulous about offering you the best rate – especially if
they can gain by having you pay higher interest. Some lenders will try to tell you that your credit
score is lower than it is and that disqualifies you from a better rate. Some may rely on your
ignorance (or what they think of your ignorance) about your credit score to quote you a worse
rate.
Never let a lender do this. Always look up your credit score before shopping for a major loan
and if you are quoted a rate you think is unfair, speak up and tell the credit officer that your
credit score of 700 (or whatever the score is) seems to indicate a better loan.
Show the lender your printed copy of your credit score. If the lender tries to tell you that lenders
get more accurate credit scores than customers who look up their own credit scores or tries to tell
you that your credit score has changed, walk away. There are many reputable lenders out there.
Find one of them rather than relying on a lender who will try to lie to make a profit.
Tip #71: Consider speaking to lenders face-to-face if you have a bad credit score
If you apply for a loan over the telephone or online, your credit score will count the most,
because that is all the lender will likely look at before getting back to you with a quote. If you
have bad credit but still need a loan, meeting with a lender face to face is your best bet because
an actual meeting allows a lender to get an impression of you, and allows you to explain the
problems you have had in the past and the things you are doing now to make yourself a better
credit risk.
When you meet worth a lender in person, you force them to stop looking at you as a credit score
number and make them look at you as an entire person. This can be a huge advantage for you
(especially if you are personable) and can help you get the loan your credit score does not
completely qualify you for.
Make Credit Repair Easier on Yourself
Credit repair is no picnic. It requires continual work and effort to get a good credit score and to
improve a bad one. In today’s busy life, you stand a much better chance of getting a better credit
score if you make it as easy on yourself as possible. In many cases, people actually have low
credit scores not because of carelessness or indifference, but because hectic lifestyles lead to
oversights and missed credit payments. There are several things you can do to make good credit
almost automatic:
Tip #72: Don’t let a bad credit score make you swear off purchases you must make
You will make life much harder on yourself if you deny yourself things you need – such as
medical treatments – because your credit is poor. If you have bad credit, but need money for
something urgent, consider a secured loan or a bad credit loan with generous terms. Do not let
bad credit affect your ability to stay safe and healthy.
Some people think that getting credit while trying to repair their FICO score is bad idea. While
it is true that you may not get the best interest rates on the loans you get in the time before your
credit score is improved, getting loans that you need may simply be too important to put off.
Tip #73: Make arrangements to pay your bills when you are on vacation or ill
When we go on vacation, of course we want to get away from it all, but when we forget to pay
our bills while away, we risk getting dings on our credit that can affect our credit risk rating.
Make it part of your vacation practice to pay bills in advance or to arrange someone to pay your
bills while you are away. Similarly, while you are ill, arrange to have bills paid so that bills
don’t pile up and so that you don’t get marked as a “non-payer.” It is frustrating to be trying to
improve a credit score only to suffer a setback over a small oversight.
Tip #74: Consider online banking or telephone banking to make bill payment easier
If you have trouble getting your payments in on time, consider online or telephone banking. This
simple system is now available from virtually revery bank and can help you pay your bills in
minutes – at any time of the day or night. If you travel a lot, on line or telephone banking can be
a real life-saver as it will allow you to pay your bills no matter where you are.
Plus, you get instant confirmation of the paid bill and your payment is counted instantly. You no
longer have to worry about payments getting lost in the mail or getting lost in a bureaucratic
shuffle – the record of the payment is right on your bank account statement.
If you lead a busy lifestyle and have several late payments of bills simply because you can’t
quite keep up with the errand of paying bills, online or telephone banking can be the solution that
can help your credit rating by effectively putting a stop to late or unpaid bills. With these two
very convenient and quick payment options, there really is no excuse for unpaid accounts.
Tip #75: Simplify your bills
You can often get great discounts by choosing to get several services from the same company –
for example, a package deal from your phone company can give you internet access, long
distance phone plans, and cable television – all on one bill and all in one low price. Pooling your
insurance into one package from one insurance provider can have the same effect. Reducing the
number of bills you get can make it easier for you to pay your bills and so reduces the chances
that your credit rating will be affected by non-paid or late paid bills.
Tip #76: Pay your bills as soon as you get them
If you leave your bills until later, you may forget and end up being listed as a late payer. Some
companies may not report you to credit bureaus right away, but others report even one skipped or
late payment, which can show up on your credit report and affect your credit rating.
Tip #77: Set aside a regular day, time, and place for paying bills
If you are too busy to pay your bills as they arrive, set aside one hour each week for paying your
bills and ordering your finances. Have the same place and time set aside each week, so that
paying incoming bills and taking care of your finances becomes an automatic good habit.
Make sure that the place you set aside is quiet and contain everything you need – including pens,
a calendar, stamps, envelopes, and your payment information. Making bill paying automatic in
this way can reduce the number of non-payments and late payments you make on your bills, and
reducing these problems can help improve your credit risk rating.
Tip #78: Record your financial duties on a calendar – just like all your other appointments
If you mark down when bills are due, when you need to make payments, and what you need to
accomplish to boost your credit score in a visible place you check often, you are less likely to
overlook important appointments and deadlines.
Tip #79: Go online
There are a number of online resources that can help you find credit information and can help
you with your credit repair project:
The FICO web site – http://www.myfico.com – contains lots of useful credit repair information and
even allows you to order credit reports and scores.
The credit bureaus (transunion.com, equifax.com and experian.com) allow you to order credit
scores and credit reports online.
Through the online sites you can also get information on reporting errors on your credit report.
Your bank likely offers online banking as well, which can make managing your accounts easier
and simpler for you each month.
Most companies – including utility companies and credit card companies – will now allow you to
get your bills right in your inbox. This is a very handy feature as it allows you to get your bill
right away, it cuts down on the amount of mail you get, and allows you to get and pay your bill
online through online banking. Plus, many accounting software packages now allow you to
coordinate all your financial information through one program, which can make taking care of
your finances much more automatic and timely.
Student Credit Repair
Students are increasingly worried about credit and credit scores – and for good reason. Student
debts are rising and the numbers of students who leave school with ruined credit scores is rising
as well. Many experts blame larger credit card debts and rising tuition costs (that lead to larger
student loans).
Despite the pressures of today’s student life, though, it is possible to leave school with a good
credit score and in fact to develop good financial habits that can lead to a lifetime of good credit
ratings. There are a few tips that can make the college years a credit-booster instead of a credit
disaster:
Tip #80: If you are a student, you have a great secret weapon for credit repair and credit
help – your school’s financial aid office
If you are a college student, your school’s financial aid office should be one of your first stops at
the campus. Few students visit this office regularly while they are in school, and this is a
mistake. The financial aid office at most universities and colleges has more than enough
information to help you keep your credit score in tip-top shape.
The financial aid office offers one-on-one financial counseling, information about scholarships,
tips on budgeting, books on money, and many more resources. The officers at your university or
college financial aid office can offer you help on almost any aspect of financial help – including
helping you figure out credit scoring. Plus, many financial aid offices have workshops that can
teach you about dealing with money and credit, and even offer free tax filing services, services
that are extremely useful.
In fact, the financial aid offices at most colleges and universities are so useful that you may want
to call the school you attended in the past to ask whether alumni are eligible for any services at
the financial aid office. The resources that you a get for free from these offices are simply too
good to miss.
Tip #81: If you are a student (and especially a student with student loans), budget carefully
Student loans need to be paid back and are more and more often for large amounts. Taking out
the smallest loans you can and sticking to a budget can help establish good credit habits that can
help ensure that you have a good credit score when you leave university. Plus, since student
loans are for a limited amount, you can easily budget because you will know exactly how much
money you will make each month and how much money you will be spending on student
housing, tuition and other expenses.
Tip #82: Try to pay for education through means other than loans
Student loans are becoming a problem for more and more students. On the one hand, student
and college loans can help students who could otherwise not afford go to college or university.
On the other hand, though, huge student loans can be a terrible financial burden after graduation.
While it is true that most college and student loans do not have to be repaid until after
graduation, the time after graduation usually carries some large financial responsibilities. Many
college graduates want or need a car, a good job, and possibly a house or home. Each of these
things requires a good credit standing, but too large student loans not only require larger monthly
repayments but also may affect credit scores by overextending credit.
As tuition fees rise, larger student loans are becoming the norm, leading to financial hardship
down the road for many students. To avoid this, you should take out the smallest loan you can,
relying on jobs, savings, scholarships, bursaries, and other forms of financial aid to make up the
rest of your tuition and living expenses. You should rely on loans as a last – not a first –
alternative.
Student and college loans are an investment in your future since they can help you get the
education you need in order to get a great and fulfilling career. However, these loans are a
serious and usually long-term financial responsibility. They should not be undertaken lightly. If
you need a loan to pay for college, you should get the smallest loan you can and should get the
best terms and rates on it possible.
In general, need-based government-subsidized student loans generally offer the best terms and
rates. After that, college and student loans from private lenders may offer decent rates. Personal
loans and credit cards should only be used when absolutely necessary to pay for an education, as
these tend to have higher interest rates and require that you start repaying them right away.
Tip #83: (Almost) never default on a student loan
Many students think that defaulting on a student loan after graduation is a smart way to get rid of
a debt. After all, they no longer need the money for school and in fact need the money for
settling into a job and new home.
However, defaulting on a student loan is a terrible mistake in almost all cases, because it affects
your credit rating very negatively. If you have student loans, it is important that you start
repaying them on schedule and that you repay them on time. Doing so will actually improve
your credit score.
If you are having trouble repaying your student and college loans, speak to the lenders rather
than ignoring the problem. Most lenders will actually give you a six month grace period after
graduation so that you can find a job and settle into post-college life before repaying your loans.
If you have several loans, your lenders may be willing to help you pool them into one larger loan
payment that requires smaller monthly payments. Some lenders will also give a few months
grace in case of unemployment.
Read your loan agreements carefully to find out what your student loans are like and what is
forgiven in them. If you need to, work out a different payment schedule, seek out refinancing, or
find some other way to repay.
Only default on your student loans as a last resort when you really have no way of repaying your
debts. In that finality, be prepared for the decision to affect your credit score quote badly for
some time.
Once you default on one loan, it really counts against your credit rating – especially since as a
new graduate you do not have a long credit history yet. After all, lenders who see that you have
defaulted on one financial responsibility will wonder why you wouldn’t default on their loan, as
well. After defaulting on your student loan, you may be unable to get credit for some time and
you will have to work much, much harder to re-establish good credit.
Tip #84: Save money by taking advantage of student discounts or student life
One of the advantages of student life is that it is inexpensive. Student housing or rooms rented
with roommates create inexpensive living, on-campus facilities offer great services at discount
rates, and many businesses offer student-only deals.
Try to take advantage of these offers to make your student money stretch further so that you
have take out the smallest student loans possible. Look around to find the best student-deal
offers, ranging from travel deals to free tax filing services, available from your campus and from
surrounding businesses.
Make use of the free services on campus – such as renting movies for free from the film
department or working out in the school gym – rather than paying for these same services outside
the campus.
Tip #85: Follow the “cash for wants, loans for needs” rule
Many students fall in love with their credit cards. Credit card companies know this, too, and
routinely heavily advertise on college campuses, even offering students free food or gifts to fill
out a credit application. While the convenience of credit cards is tempting, it is a good habit to
use credit cards only for major purchases, saving cash for entertainment, food, clothes, and other
like items. This is because studies have repeatedly shown that those who pay cash for items
routinely spend less than those charging or using debt cards to pay.
Using only cash for entertainment and other small needs ensures you won’t spend more than you
have to and also ensures that you won’t up paying for months for something that is long gone.
Tip #86: Make learning about money a priority
Whether you attend information sessions at the financial aid office, read about money in books,
or meet with your bank’s financial officers, learning how to manage your money is an important
part of school life.
For many students, their time away from home is one of the first times they are responsible for
finances – including bills. Learning to handle this responsibility well early on in life ensures that
you will enjoy a good credit standing your whole life. Learning about money will also help you
prevent costly credit mistakes.
Tip #87: Start building credit early – and do it well
Start building credit early – even before college starts, if you plan on taking out college loans.
Ask your parents to sign over a bill that you pay on time each month. Get a credit card with a
low limit and a bank account that you balance each month. Avoid opening several charge cards
at once – not only will they be hard to repay, but having several new accounts when you have a
short credit history will actually cause your credit rating to drop. Get a part-time job.
Each of these things can help you establish good credit, high in turn can help you get a good
student loan rate. More importantly, establishing credit early will help ensure that you have a
long (and good) credit history by the time you graduate from college, which will help you with
all your important, large post-graduation expenses.
Dealing with Debt
Debt is a major factor in your credit score. If you have too much of it (or none at all) or if you
have trouble repaying your debts on time, your credit score will plummet. Keeping your debts
reasonable and paid, on the other hand, will do more than almost anything else to improve your
credit score. Here are a few tips that can ensure that your debts actually help you boost your
credit score:
Tip #88: Consolidate your loans to make repaying them easier
Having lots of loans and debt is one of the biggest reasons leading to poor credit ratings. The
larger your debts, the worse your credit rating and the more likely that you will find yourself
with large monthly bills that are difficult to repay.
Consolidating your loans means that you take out one large loan to repay all your creditors so
that you only have one large loan to repay. While the overall amount of the loan does not change
– if you owed $20 000 to five different companies, you will still owe $20 000 but to only one
lender – but the interest rates and monthly payments are usually quite smaller and this can help
meeting your debt obligations much easier.
Debt consolidation can be an especially good idea if you have lots of high-interest debt and lots
of bills that are hard to keep track of. One smaller monthly payment will be easier to remember
and will help make bill time less painful.
Tip #89: Pay down your debts by making larger than minimal payments
If you only pay down the minimum amount on each of your loans, it will take you a long, long
time to pay down your loans. This is because most lenders only require that you pay down
slightly more than the interest amount on your debt each month. Even a debt of a few hundred
dollars could take several years to repay this way.
Paying down your debts by putting down more than the minimum required monthly payment can
help you pay down your debts faster and so can boost your credit score. Paying down more than
you need to also shows lenders that you are in good financial shape and conscientious about your
debts – two qualities that definitely make you an attractive credit risk to lenders.
Tip #90: If you are taking out a new loan, consider putting down a larger down payment to
take out a smaller loan
Doing all you can to take out a smaller loan – by putting down a larger down payment or buying
a less expensive car or home (if that is what the loan is for), for example – can help ensure that
you don’t overextend your credit and can help ensure that your monthly payments on the debt
will be reasonable and affordable to you.
In fact, for larger purchases, some debtors take out piggyback loans, most often for a mortgage.
They borrow money for a down payment, so that they can get a better rate deal on the larger
second loan they take out to pay for the purchase.
Do your math before making a big purchase – you may find that a larger down payment – even if
you have to borrow to get it – can help your credit by making your payments more affordable and
by ensuring that you don’t overextend your credit.
Tip #91: Use loan calculators to estimate your finances and keep your credit rating in good
shape
Online loan calculators are a useful tool that can help you determine how much of an interest rate
you should pay, how much in monthly payments you can afford, and how much your loan will
cost you in interest over the long term.
Online loan calculators are free to use and can help you figure out how to make your debts more
affordable. There are online loan calculators for auto loans, home loans, and personal loans. If
you are going to be getting a new loan, these calculators can be a powerful resource.
Tip #92: Avoid payday loans
Payday loans are also called “cash advance loans” and they are small and short-term loans that
carry very high interest rate. Some companies have even begun to advertise them as loans to
help you repair your credit, but this is very misleading. Some companies suggest that these loans
can help you pay off your bills and so establish good credit, but if you cannot afford to pay your
payday loans on time, you have to “roll-over” or extend the loan – often at huge expense and
interest. Many people get into a payday loans cycle, whereby much of their monthly paycheck
goes towards paying off their ever-growing payday loans.
In fact, several states are investigating payday loans for possible illegal activity stemming from
usury laws. If you cannot afford your bills one month, you are much better off trying to arrange
an alternate schedule of payment with the companies you owe money to rather than risking your
credit rating through payday loans. Payday loans may be fine in a true emergency, but the
payday loans cycle gets very unaffordable very fast and can ruin your credit rating.
Tip #93: Do not use one debt to repay another
This results in accumulating interest and so increasingly unpayable bills. If you use one credit
card to pay off another, for example, you are paying interest on interest, and paying off the new
credit card bill will be more difficult.
This method will also mean that you will always be looking for new credit and new debt to pay
off your increasing debts. It makes more sense to get a second job or arrange for a new payment
schedule.
Paying off your debts with another debt may help you in the short run – you will not have a late
payment on your credit record – but in the long run the larger debt load will make maintaining
good credit more and more difficult. The only exception to this rule is debt consolidation, in
which all your bills are paid by one lender, who then becomes the only creditor you owe money
to.
Credit Repair and Your Emotions
It is a subject that few people discuss, but more and more therapists are talking about it – the key
link between our emotions and our money. We may think that money is all about our rational
selves, but in fact our emotions are often very much invested in our pocket books.
If we want to repair our credit, we have to deal with the emotional as well as the numerical side
of money. There are a few tips that financial experts now believe can help you harness your
emotions in a way that can actually help you improve your credit score:
Tip #94: Give Yourself a Break
There is no point in beating yourself up over your credit score – whatever it is. Instead, promise
yourself that you will do better in the future and then work to repair your credit rather than
working on berating yourself. Taking action to improve your credit rating will improve your
outlook as well as your credit.
Tip #95: Don’t make excuses
If you have been the object of identity theft or have genuinely been mistreated by a company,
then by all means include an explanatory note in your credit report. However, most lenders do
not want to hear a lot of excuses. Whatever your problems have been in the past, you will seem
like a much more reliable lender if you focus on what you are doing to get out of problems.
You will feel better and get better responses from lenders if your focus on current action rather
than past mistakes. Instead of wallowing in pity and explaining in great detail the personal and
financial problems that led to a bad credit rating, give yourself and lenders the condensed version
and then move on to a detailed review of what you are doing to repair your credit.
Tip #96: Give Yourself a Treat – without affecting your credit rating
Reestablishing good credit is hard work and daunting as well. Once in a while, as you reach a
milestone, you need to reward yourself. You should do this through some means that do not
involve debt or money. If you repay your credit card bill, there is no sense in running up that bill
again on a shopping trip.
Instead, you should list some inexpensive and fun treats you could give yourself. Keep this list
wherever you keep your financial file. As you reach a big milestone, take out your list and
immediately reward yourself with one of the items on the list. This will not only keep you
motivated, but it will inexpensively keep you from feeling too deprived while you work on your
credit score.
Tip #97: Work on your emotional response to debt and money
Most of us carry a lot of emotional baggage with us when it comes to money. We see money as
a marker of success, or we see money as a way of making ourselves feel better, and these
attitudes lead us to much of our financial and credit problems. If we rely on money to make us
feel successful, then we are apt to overspend. If we fear money – or the lack of it – we are
unlikely to save it or make investments with it.
We need to be aware of the ways we respond to money and the ways that those responses shape
the ways we deal with money. Some financial experts recommend that clients keep money
journals, in which they record their money hopes, their money fears, and their responses to
spending and money. A money journal can help you by showing you how feel about spending
and about money. If you can isolate the emotions that influence how you spend money and how
you make your money decisions, you will be well on your way towards fixing your financial
problems.
Tip #98: Don’t mix debt with emotion and stay aware of your emotions
It pays to separate your feelings of worth and your emotions from your finances, especially when
you are trying to repair your credit. Feeling self-pity, shame, fear, or sadness as you try to repair
your credit score won’t help you. Staying calm and professional as you deal with credit bureaus
and financial professionals will help you. If you need to, keep telling yourself that your credit
score is just an important number. Keep it separate from yourself and your emotional state as far
as possible.
Bad credit can be emotionally trying, and boosting your credit can be daunting and difficult as
well. It is important that you keep track of your emotions during the process. If you find
yourself dwelling on your credit too much or if you find yourself severely depressed, seek help at
once. A credit problem is a fixable solution – do not let it become an emotional disaster for you.
Tip #99: Get help if you need it
Do not be afraid to ask for help – financial or emotional – if you need it. There are a number of
wonderful organizations that can help you if a problem is causing your credit problems. If you
have credit problems due to compulsive overspending, for example, Overspenders Anonymous
can be a great help.
If you suffer from a gambling problem, there are a number of charitable organizations that can
help you overcome the addiction. If you have accumulated debt as a result of these sorts of
specific problems, you will not really be able to fix your credit rating unless you deal with the
problems behind the bad credit. Many good groups and therapists out there can help you.
Find a recommendation for a good one from your family doctor or a trusted friend or family
member. You will be glad that you did.
Parting Credit Tips
Before you head off to enjoy your new and improved credit score or to work on boosting your
credit score, consider two more tips that may well come in handy as your try to repair your credit
score:
Tip #100: Learn to deal with collection agencies
If you have bad credit, you will have to deal with collection agencies sooner or later, and these
companies often present the most persistent and unpleasant problem for those with bad credit.
Collection agencies are basically companies that work on behalf of companies to try to recoup
money that is owed.
If you owe your credit card company a payment that has not been made in some time, your credit
card company will eventually ask a collection agency to speak with you. In many cases,
collection agencies try to get money for their clients through phone calls. Some collection
agencies are quite reasonable and will try to work with you. However, some will use threatening
or harassing techniques – including verbal threats and daily phone calls – to try to get you to pay.
To prevent the stress that collection agencies can cause, learn to deal with collection agencies.
You should always get the full name of whomever you speak with at a collection agency. You
should try to be honest about your ability to repay and try to work out a payment schedule or
payment options. If at any point you feel threatened or harassed, say so. Hang up the phone if
the collection agent persists and contact the company who is trying to recoup money from you
directly.
Note that the collection agency the company uses has been using is using abusive or upsetting
language and ask to resolve the issue with someone at the company directly. Get the name of the
collection agency and report them – and the agent you spoke with – to the Better Business
Bureau. Refuse further calls from the collection agency and continue your communication with
the creditor directly, noting each time the collection company contacts you with harassing or
abusive calls.
Unfortunately, some collection agencies feel that intimidation yields the best results and since
most collection agencies work through telephoning, they feel that they can say whatever they
like (including making personal and false accusations) in order to try to recoup money for their
clients. There is no paper trail and few people harassed by the agencies take these companies to
court.
Some debtors feel so ashamed of their bad credit rating that they almost feel that they deserve the
abuse. Both views are completely wrong. A bad credit rating does not make you deserving of
abuse. Report collection agencies that offer harassment as a technique and make it clear to
lenders that you will not work with a company that uses abuse as a technique of recouping
money.
Some collection agencies will try to use your credit score against you, telling you that they can
ruin your credit score at a glance or file a claim on your credit score. Don’t fall for this. Your
credit score is instantly affected when you fail to make a payment or are reported to a collection
agency, but there is nothing that the collection agency employee can do to make your credit
score worse beyond those two things.
You will still be eligible for credit in many cases. Do not let false claims about your credit score
intimidate you into accepting the abuse of a collection agency.
Tip #101: Keep at it
Credit repair is not something that you simply do once in a while when your credit rating slips
below 620. Credit repair and credit check-ups need to be part of your overall long-term financial
plan. You need to follow a regular maintenance schedule of checking your credit reports
regularly (you can get one free credit report from each of the major credit bureaus every four
months, which lets you check your credit for free three times a year).
Regular check-ups will ensure that you have not been the victim of identity theft and will help
you make sure that your credit has not begun to slip. Catching errors and problems early can be
an excellent long-term way to ensure that you never need intensive credit repair again.
Your credit should be part of your financial goals because your credit can help you meet your
goals. Good credit can help make loans affordable, and so can help make education, homes, and
cars possible.
Your credit score will not stay steady – it may drop due to oversight or if you suddenly open
some new loan accounts. However, overall you should continue to follow the strategies in this
ebook in order to develop good habits that will keep your financial life stable and will help keep
your credit score overall in good repair.
Conclusion
If you follow all – or even some – of these tips, you will notice an improvement in your credit
rating with time. The main thing is to keep showing lenders that you are a good credit risk and
keeping your credit report safe from identity thieves and hackers. If you already suffer from bad
credit, developing your own method of credit repair using the tips in this ebook can help you
reestablish the credit risk rating that can get you the best interest rates possible.
In general, you will want to follow at least four steps to better credit scores:
1)
Check your credit report and credit scores. Assess your current situation and make sure to
correct any errors on your report by writing to the credit bureaus and to the creditors involved.
Immediately report any charges you don’t recognize – these may indicate an error but they might
also indicate that you have been the victim of fraud or identity theft.
2)
Pay down your debts and pay your bills on time. Close down the shorter-term loans if you
need to.
40 Real Estate Objections Handled
1. “If I list my home with you and buy my next home from you, will you cut your commission?”
“You know, I can appreciate that, and I want to be up front with you and say NO, I will not cut my commissions, and for one very simple reason.”
“As a professional my time has a certain value and I only work with people, like yourself, that realize the value of my service … and before you say anything, think about this … ”
“If an agent is willing to cut his or her commission, just like that, how well do you think they will hold up when it comes to negotiating the best possible price for your home?”
“I want to demonstrate, up front, how tough I am going to be for you … Therefore, cutting my commission is not an option … does that make sense?”
2. “I have to keep my promise to the agent from which I originally bought the home.”
“That’s great, I can appreciate your loyalty and that is a quality that I respect in
people … so, I’m curious, let me ask you this …
“Has there ever been a time when you decided to buy something or do something and a
friend said, “Hey, no problem when you need help, I can do it” and in the end, because
you didn’t check around, you really didn’t get what you wanted … Have you ever been
there before?” (YES)
“Well, I think you might find that this time is just like that time, and with that in mind,
I’m sure you can see the importance of having me over to give you a second
opinion … that wouldn’t hurt anything, would it?”
3. “I have seen this marketing plan from many different agents … what makes yours
different?”
I’d level shift … “You know what? You’re right! There are only a certain number of
things any agent can do to get a home sold and I think the final decision is not based
on what I do differently …
“I think the real issue is how you feel about the agent representing you … So tell me,
what qualities are you looking for in an agent?
Did you see how I shifted from “What do you do different?”, to “What qualities are you
looking for?”
Top agent alternative:
“My results!”
4. “Why is your price so much lower than the other agents that we have talked to? …
I mean, they have comps that show higher prices than yours?”
“It’s kind of confusing isn’t it? I mean, you interview four agents and you get four
different prices … right”? (Yes, why is that?)
“You are probably thinking, why did this person come in with such a low price?
Doesn’t he or she want to get our listing? Well, my answer is Yes and No.”
“You see there is a very big difference in the way that I operate and the way that most
agents operate. Most agents manipulate the computer to show figures that they think
you want to hear. Why?
“Well, most agents don’t do much or get much business. Getting your listing makes
them feel like they are accomplishing something …
“Whereas, I, on the other hand, sell homes, non-stop, all day long. Do you want to
know why?” (Sure)
“I tell nice people like you, the truth. Did you know that only ___% of the homes that
are listed for sale actually sell?” (No, I didn’t know that.)
“There’s a very simple reason, do you want to hear it?” (Yes)
“Most agents do not have many listings. Therefore, convincing you to list your home
with them becomes very important.”
“That’s why they’ll tell you whatever price they think you want to hear, even if they
know six months from now, you will not be happy with them at all because no buyers
will look at a house that is over priced … Does that make sense?”
Top Agent Alternative:
“My comps show the price I have indicated. I will take the listing if you will agree and
sign an acknowledgement form tonight that you will reduce the listing to my price in
30 days. I would rather see you turn down 10 offers than never get one.”
Top Agent Alternative:
“They emphasize listed prices. All I am concerned with is what is sold and has closed
escrow. You wouldn’t want to base your price on erroneous info, would you?”
Top Agent Alternative:
“There are two places you can price your home … You can list it where it sits or you
can list it where it sells. Which is better for you?”
5. “I’ll sell my home when the values go up!”
If a prospect has no reason to sell their house then that is a condition. You can’t
overcome conditions.
6. “How much advertising will you do, because I want a lot of advertising?”
“I understand that advertising is a concern … Are you familiar with the difference
between passive and active marketing?” (No?)
“Passive marketing is basically sitting around with your fingers crossed waiting for a
buyer to shop up and buy your home …
“Passive marketing is holding open houses, sending out flyers and advertising in the
newspaper …
“You see, these methods are passive and you can’t predict if they will work or not. Yet,
agents that don’t want to work at getting your home sold will insist that they have sold
many homes this way … And do you know what?
“I agree, you can get a home sold that way … But, you can’t guarantee it. Do you
understand what I mean by passive, basically sitting around waiting to get your home
sold?
“Active marketing on the other hand is much more aggressive and very predictable.”
“I will be on the phone every single day and call 10, 25, 50 even 100 people asking
them if they would like to buy your home, if they know someone who would like to
buy your home or if they would like to sell their house …
“Do you know why I ask them if they would like me to sell their house?” (Why?)
“You see, the more signs I have out in the community, the more buyers that will call on
those signs. The more buyer calls I get, the more people I can show your house to …
“Now, which way, passive or active do you think gets more homes sold?
“Would you like me to spend all my time and effort doing what is proven to get your
home sold or would you like me to sit around with my fingers crossed hoping a buyer
happens to call?”
Top Agent Alternative:
“I advertise to the brokerage community; it has the qualified buyers for which we are
looking.” (Passive vs. active, etc.)
7. “You’re too busy, you have so many listings, we want someone that can give us the
attention we deserve.”
I’d level shift this one, I’d say…
“I can appreciate that and you probably haven’t had a chance to think about the
advantage I have over my fellow agents in town…
“You see, the more listings I have, the more signs I have on the street. The more signs
I have on the street, the more calls I get from buyers … and, of course, most of those
buyers don’t buy the house they call about and many of them will be very interested in
our house.”
“Can you see the advantage of listing with an agent that has 20-30 signs on the street
working for you?”
Top Agent Alternative:
“It’s funny you should say that … Benjamin Franklin said, “If you need something
done, ask a busy person.”
8. “I want to find a house before I put mine on the market.”
“I agree, finding your new home is important and the unfortunate thing is … it may
take as long as three months for your home to sell. Then it will take another two
months to get all of the paper work done and, by that time, any home that you would
have found, would already be sold.”
“Let’s get the listing agreement signed right now and get to work on getting your home
sold tonight, so you don’t have to wait any longer than is necessary to get moved into
your new home … sound good?”
Top Agent Alternative:
“I understand your concern about your new home. I’ve brought you a list of current
listings that fit your needs. Check these out and we will start looking. Once this house
goes under contract, we will put a contract on your #1 choice – Close both homes the
same day – One move for you! You are in good hands. I will take care of you.”
Top Agent Alternative:
“Terrific! Have you seen a home or are you ready to make an offer on one?” (No)
“Great, let me go ahead and schedule a time with my lender and buyer/showing agent.
They can handle that for you. Let’s go ahead and write up the contract now.”
9. “You don’t handle homes in our price range.”
I’d level shift …
“You’re right, I don’t sell a lot of homes in your price range and that’s exactly why I’m
here tonight …
“I usually sell homes in lower price ranges and what I find is … after I sell my client’s
homes, a great many of them move up to your price range, therefore, it only makes
sense … that the next logical step for me is to start to sell your price range as well,
considering I already have a relationship with many of the buyers that will be interested
in your home … does that make sense?”
10. “I need to net this amount in order to move, I have to be at my new job in 90 days,
but I can’t afford to buy a new home if I take a loss.”
“I can appreciate the position that you are in. Many people in our area are in the same
position and you know … I’m curious. Has there ever been a time when you knew you
were going to have to make a sacrifice?”
“I mean, you knew it was going to be tough and in the end, after analyzing all of your
options, you realized that there was only one thing to do … Put our head down, grit
your teeth and go for it …
“But you found that in the end, it all worked out. You made it through the tough times
and life went on, maybe even better than before …
“Have you ever been there before?” (Well, yes)
“This time is just like that time … as you can see, the competitive market analysis
shows that there is no way anyone is going to give you what you need to make this
move …
“My question is this. Is it more important to get out from under this house, take the
new job and work through the tough times or are you in a position to keep making
mortgage payments on this house for a couple of years until property values go back
up?” … Help your prospects to see that they have probably been in tough places before
and made it through … and this time is no different.
11. “If I have to sell at that price, then I will sell it myself.”
“I can appreciate your frustration with the marketplace and I was wondering, what
specifically causes you to believe that you can sell this home yourself, when less than
___% of the home listed for sale with real estate agents are selling?” (I don’t
know … but, I can’t afford to sell at that price.)
Ah-ha! The real objection comes out! Now dig more, find out the true motivation and
handle the objection the way I have already taught you.
Top Agent Alternative:
“No matter what you ask for, the homeowners are trying to save money by selling their
homes themselves. I can create more competition through the brokerage community.”
Here’s a derivative of the same one …
12. “If we have to sell that low we will sell it ourselves and pay 3% to the agent that
sells it.”
“I completely understand your point of view Mr. And Mrs. Seller and it sounds like
you haven’t been involved in this kind of transaction in a while … can I tell you why?”
(Sure!)
“Agents work with buyers because it is easy. You show the house, the agent writes an
offer, and the agent on the listing side handles the next three months of legal paperwork
trying to get the deal closed … Does that make sense?” (Yes)
“If you list it for sale yourself, who will follow up with the three months worth of legal
paperwork … you? If so, what agent will want to risk the fact that you have never
done it before?”
“Let me ask you this … If you were an agent, would you rather show homes that were
listed with professional agents that worked to get deals closed?”
“Would you rather show a home and keep your fingers crossed, hoping that you don’t
get sued by the buyers because some legal aspect was overlooked by the homeowners
and the transaction didn’t get done … Which would you rather do?”
“Do you see my point?” (Yes)
“Your idea sounds valid. It just doesn’t fit into today’s “lawsuit-happy” reality …
I’m sorry. Are there any other questions I can answer before you sign the listing
agreement?”
Top Agent Alternative:
“That may sound good, but then nobody is pushing your property. If nobody pushes it,
nobody shows it. If nobody shows it, then I guess it won’t sell.”
13. “We don’t want to list at a price that will get it sold in one week.”
First of all, why would you tell them that it was going to sell in a week, unless they told
you they needed to be gone in a week?
The only reason you would get that objection is if you were getting overly egotistical
and ambitious and bragging … I’ll sell your home in a week …
It is more important to listen to when they want to be gone and tell them that your price
will get them there on time and maybe even a week or two sooner!
You created that objection yourself, so I’m not going to handle it.
Top Agent Alternative:
“I’d rather turn down 10 offers than never get one … I’ll work with you to get the right
price for your home.”
What about this one …
14. “We can always come down in price later.”
“You’re right, and I think you need to take into account how homes get sold.”
“You see, if we come out of the shoot with your home overpriced all of the agents that
show properties will instantly write you off as non-motivated sellers … Can I explain
what that means from an agent’s perspective?” (Sure)
“The higher a price is on a property, the less a seller needs to sell it … at least that’s
what the agents believe … purely from their past experience …
“Now, a non-motivated seller means, that even if you come down in price later, two
things will happen.”
“Most agents won’t even realize your home has been reduced. Now, you might
say, can’t we send them a flyer telling them that it’s been reduced?”
“Yes, we could send everyone a flyer telling them that the prices has been
reduced, but agents get 500 flyers a week and there is a good chance it will go
unnoticed.”
“If they see that you had the home priced real high in the beginning, that
will tell them that you were kind of unrealistic when we listed the property,
meaning that you didn’t believe that what I was saying was true …
all agents interpret this as trouble when it comes to getting the deal closed.”
“Do you understand why? If we price it to sell right from the beginning, our
odds of getting agents to show it is much higher.”
Top Agent Alternative:
“By the time the buyer for your home will have bought another. Do you want to lose
that buyer?”
15. “We aren’t quite ready yet, we need to finish a couple of projects around the house
before we put it on the market.”
I would say … “I agree that making sure the house is up to par is important and you
probably didn’t realize how little effect it will have on getting your home sold …
“Let’s get your home listed for sale, get some of the top brokers in town to show the
house to prospective buyers and get their feedback …
“The good news is, you’ll find that maybe only one or two of your projects actually
need to get done … if any at all …”
“It sure would be nice to not have to spend a dime to get out of this place … wouldn’t
it?” (Yes)
“Great, which would be better for you, tonight at six or 7:30?”
Top Agent Alternative:
“Great! Why don’t we complete the paperwork now and while you are doing your
projects I’ll get the flyer done and paperwork processed so when you are ready I will be
ready too! We’ll show it in 2 weeks.”
“How much money will you spend on those? You’ll probably not make that money
back. Let’s just sell as is and save you the time and money okay?”
16. “Will you cut your commissions, other agents will?”
“You know, you’re right, there are a lot of desperate agents out there and I’m a little
concerned … can I tell you why?” (Yes)
“Do you own anything more valuable than this home?” (No)
“Could you say that it is your most valuable possession?” (Yes)
“If an agent is so desperate that they are willing to broadcast the fact that they don’t
think they have any value as a Realtor, then I’m confused.”
“Is that the type of person you want sitting across from the negotiating table trying to
negotiate you a better price?”
“We are talking about a person who has already admitted that he or she doesn’t even
see value in himself or herself … ”
“Is that the type of person you want to represent you in the most valuable transaction of
your life?” (No)
“Good. If that was the case then I should not have even come over, considering I work
14 hours a day and my assistant works 8 hours a day to get your home sold and that’s
very valuable … don’t you think?”
Here’s one for the top producers and I have to say something before I give it to you.
The more conviction you have the less you will get objections like this.
In fact, this objection is purely a function of a weak presentation … If you sound
hesitant, your prospect will begin looking for ways to exploit your weakness.
I would interpret this objection as your prospect telling you … ”I don’t think you have
any value … so you better prove it to me.”
Top Agent Alternative:
“They may feel they are worthless. If they will reduce their price at the listing table,
what will they do at the negotiating table? I will be tough and professional on both my
fee and your price, particularly at the negotiating table.”
Top Agent Alternative:
“Commissions aren’t negotiable with agents that sell homes daily. They are only
negotiable with realtors who don’t believe in the services that they offer. Now you told
me you had to be gone in 90 days, right? You need a strong service agent that sells
homes, right?”
Here it is …
17. “It seems like 7% should be enough to cover your expenses without paying an
additional $250 transaction fee.”
I would level shift from money to peace of mind … I’d say …
“I can understand your concern. It is a lot of money … so, I want you to look at it
this way … Don’t look at the money. It’s really the peace of mind you will experience
when you use my service …
“Unfortunately, most agents don’t run their business like a business.”
“That means they don’t have all the support necessary to guarantee your home will
sell … and what is even more important than that is having staff necessary to get the
deal closed.”
“Did you know that only ____% of the homes listed for sale actually sell?” (No)
“Well, even worse is this, did you know that only ____% of the homes that get offers
actually end up closing?” (No)
“The reason you are going to pay me more is simple. Every house I list for sale sells,
and my staff gets them closed so you walk away with a nice big check in your hand …
I mean, that’s what you want isn’t it?”
Top Agent Alternative:
“I have a licensed specialist who does nothing but track your transaction on a daily
basis. You can lose more than $250 by not having someone watching your deal daily.
One agent can’t do it all, it’s impossible.”
Top Agent Alternative:
“I understand. Remember I get 3% of the 7%, which I split with my company – then I
take off for my expenses. The transaction coordinator is an insurance policy that your
home will close escrow, but if you’d rather take a chance … ”
Top Agent Alternative:
“When you get a loan you pay points and a processing fee. It’s the same thing. Isn’t it
worth $250 to have me and my six assistants working for you?”
Here’s one on the list that is pretty hard …
18. “Why don’t you advertise? Everyone else we talk to says they do the same things
as you plus they advertise.”
I’d say … “Obviously that is a valid concern and I’m glad you brought it up … You see,
I want you to realize that if an agent tells you that he or she does the things that I say
I’m going to do, which is to …
“Actively prospect daily every single day to get your home sold …
“Then he or she is more than likely stretching the truth a little. Can I tell you why I
think that?” (Sure)
“Agents that advertise a lot don’t want to work. So, what these individuals will tell you
is that they actively prospect every day to impress you …
“But, let me ask you a question … If you could sell a home without spending 50% of
your money … would you?” (Yes)
“I mean, all smart business people would … wouldn’t they?” (Yes)
“Either they are not smart, or they aren’t telling you the whole truth … does that make
sense?”
Here’s another one on the list …
19. “You don’t hold open houses … Why?”
I would say exactly the same thing I said about advertising and talk about passive
versus active marketing.
Here’s one … you were guaranteed the last interview and after all is said and done they
say …
20. “We still need to interview one more agent.”
(Even after they promised you would be last)
Okay? First of all … that is not the real objection … they are just saying to you …
“We don’t see why we should pay you money to sell our home … that’s why you
should leave.”
So, what we need to do is flush out the real objection.
Use the “What specifically causes you to believe” but, only if you are in good rapport,
otherwise it might be a little too strong …
For a less direct version that will still flush out the real objection try something like
this …
“You know … I can appreciate the fact that you want another opinion, and the fact that
I was told that I would be the last agent interviewed only tells me one thing …
“Do you want to know what it is?” (Yes)
“Somewhere, somehow, I have not completely convinced you that I can sell your home.
So tell me …
“What is it, specifically, that is stopping you from signing the listing contract with me
tonight?”
Now, you’re going to get the real objection and you can use one of the patterns I taught
you to handle it …
Top Agent Alternative:
“I can appreciate that before we met today that you set up another appointment with
another realtor. I’m sure you will agree that my qualifications will be tough to beat.
I’ll be happy to call the other agent, cancel your appointment and it will be one less
delay in getting your home sold.”
Top Agent Alternative:
“Agents work together. I will call __________ and tell him/her your home is listed and
they can bring their buyers anytime.”
Here’s another objection for those of you trying to convert your real estate business into
a real business. Which means you are asking your prospects to come into the office for
appointments.
What if the person says …
21. “It is important to us that you see our home, even though you don’t think it will
make a difference in price. We want you to see it. We will only meet with you at
our home.”
The only time you get this one is if you are using the Mike Ferry “Appointments in the
Office” strategy. Here’s how I would handle it.
“I understand that seeing your home is important to you and that’s why I’m willing to
make an exception for you … under one condition …
“If I decide to come over to your house and I present something that makes sense to
you and you understand exactly how I’m going to get your home sold, and you feel
comfortable with it … are you going to list your home for sales with me at that point?”
If the answer is yes, go!
If the answer is maybe, then you need to decide what you want to do.
Top Agent Alternative:
“Why don’t I come by on my way to the office tomorrow morning, I’ll look at it then,
and see you here at 5:00 p.m. tomorrow night. That way I can show you our
office set-up?”
Top Agent Alternative:
“I will see your home once it’s listed. You see I spend all my time out in the field
looking for buyers to sell my listings. So, when your home is listed, I will be doing the
same thing.”
What if they say this one …
22. “We want to have an exclusion in the listing contract in case our company, friend
or neighbor wants to buy it.”
I’d say …
“I agree that it’s important to be thorough when we are filling out this contract and let
me ask you this …
“Why haven’t you already sold the home to your company, friend or neighbor?” (No
one has made us an offer)
“Your personal marketing hasn’t worked and that’s why you’re hiring me … is that
right?” (That’s right)
“So, I’m curious as to why I should waive my commission. If my marketing works
well enough to convince your company, friend or neighbor to buy it … isn’t that what
you are paying me for in the first place?
“Aren’t you hiring me to let the public know your home is for sale and convince people
that they should buy it?
“So, why would I cut my commission if my marketing works?”
Top Agent Alternative:
“You have 24 hours to let them know you’re listed. Call them. They do or they don’t.”
Here’s one …
23. “We want to compare what you are saying to other Realtors.”
I’d use the what specifically pattern.
“Great! I think that is one of the best things that you could do and before I go … Tell
me, what is it specifically that is stopping you from picking up that pen and signing
your home with me?” (We’re just a little shocked by the price)
“Hey, I understand and let me ask you this … If I can help you to realize that your
home will not sell for a dollar more than what I have told you … If you felt completely
satisfied that it was true … would you still want to waste your valuable time talking
to another Realtor or would you just list we me tonight?” (Well, I guess if we felt
comfortable, we would list with you tonight) “Great!”
Then simply go back through the CMA and convince them.
Next one on the list …
24. “Why should we choose you?”
The only way to answer this one is to know what makes you different from other
agents. Since that is different with every agent … I’ll leave that one up to you.
Next one on the list…
25. “We want to think it over.”
I would force them to make the general more specific.
“I can appreciate that, making a logical decision is important … so tell me, what is it
specifically that you’re going to have to think over?”
Now, they will give you the real hidden objection and you can handle it using the
patterns you have already learned.
Next one on the list …
26. An expired listing says “The last agent never showed our home himself and neither
did anyone else from his office.”
“Did they promise you that they would be showing your home non-stop?” (Yes) “Well
then, I can appreciate what you’re telling me … you see I promise you I will not be
showing your home! Do you want to know why?” (Yes)
“The agents in my office are not part of the top 100 agents in the area that sell 88% of
the homes listed for sale.
“I’m curious … Did you want me marketing your property to the people that sell the
homes or the agents that just do okay?” (The agents that sell the homes)
“That’s why I promise to market your home to the agents that sell homes and not to the
agents that don’t … is that okay with you?” (Yes) “I thought so.”
Top Agent Alternative:
“You’re kidding!”
Next one on the list is from a FSBO …
27. “We will only list with agents that have brought clients by while we were selling on
our own.”
“I can understand why you might think that is a smart thing to do … I mean it only
seems logical … doesn’t it?” (Yes)
“You’re right, it does seem logical, unless you know how the real estate business
works … can I let you in on a little secret?” (Sure)
“Well, there are two types of agents … listing agents and buyers agents. Of course
both listing and selling, but let me ask you this …
“You want to list your home for sale and get it sold, right?” (Right!)
“Then you want an agent that knows marketing … does that make sense?” (Yes)
“Agents that take buyers to FSBO’s aren’t marketing agents, they are buyers agents …
They specialize in selling one-on-one.”
“So, I’m curious, which do you think is going to get your home sold … An agent that
tries to sell people one at a time or an agent that sells to the masses trying to pinpoint
that one perfect buyer for your home?
“I’m sure no other agent even took the time to explain that to you … did they?” (No)
“Do you see why it makes sense to list with an agent like myself that spends all day
marketing your property on a mass scale?”
Next one on the list is from a potential FSBO …
28. “We want to try selling it ourselves.”
“I totally understand the thought of trying to get a home sold yourself … I mean,
let’s face it … saving that commission can mean some good money in your pocket …
right?” (Right!)
“So, I’m curious, are you familiar with the difference between passive and active
marketing?” (No)
“Real quick … Passive marketing is basically sitting around doing nothing like, holding
open houses, sending out flyers or advertising in the newspaper …
“Were you thinking about doing any of these things?” (Yeah) “I was afraid of that!”
“These methods only work about 25% of the time! Yet, agents sell this concept as if
this was the answer to all your problems … right?” (Right)
“Which then makes you think well, what’s so hard about that … I could do that …
right?” (Right)
“The problem is … this doesn’t get a home sold anymore …
“Do you understand now what I mean by passive … sitting around with your fingers
crossed … waiting for the buyer?
“Active Marketing, on the other hand, is literally getting on the phone every single day
and personally contacting as many people as I can 25, 50, even 100 a day.
“The key is … asking them if they would like to buy your home, if they know someone
who would like to buy your home, or if they would like to sell their home.
“Do you know why I ask if they would like to sell their home? Because the more signs
I have the more buyer’s calls I get to show your home … does that make sense?
“Now … which way passive or active do you believe will get more homes sold?
“And you understand that I am doing active marketing on you as we speak, right?
“So, how many people do you think you could call a day to try and get your home
sold … and by the way have you ever done telephone soliciting before?”
Top Agent Alternative:
“You can try it. Lots of people do. It is like going to Las Vegas. Millions of people
go, and every now and then someone hits the jackpot, but the vast majority of people
lose money or Las Vegas wouldn’t be there. Every now and then a seller hits the
jackpot, but the vast majority need a Realtor or the real estate industry wouldn’t be
here.”
Top Agent Alternative:
“Let’s talk, okay? John, you are an attorney and try cases in court daily. I can’t
imagine walking in and trying the case myself. I am a professional real estate agent. I
know what I am doing. I am here to release you from the extra stress. I have a record
98.8% full contracts. I earn my commission. I bring you top dollar. I close the deal.”
Next one on the list …
29. “We have a good friend in the business.”
I’m going to have to steal my Dad’s brilliant one …
“I can appreciate that, almost everybody does, so when would you like to see how 85%
of the homes I list for sale sell and why only 40% of the homes listed with other agents
sell … tonight at 6:00 or tonight at 7:30?”
Top Agent Alternative:
“Your friends will want the very best for you. I will be happy to call them for you.”
Top Agent Alternative:
“Are you willing to jeopardize your friendship?”
Top Agent Alternative:
“You owe your friend friendship. You owe me nothing. But you owe yourself the best.
Don’t you want the best agent working for you?”
Now, this is an unusual one, but very relevant for big Mike Ferry Offices …
30. “10 other agents from your office have called today; I wish you would just lay off.”
I’d say …
“I can understand your frustration and are you beginning to realize that our office gets
the job done?” (Yeah, but you’re driving me crazy)
“I agree … it’s a living nightmare isn’t it?” (Yes)
“And I’m sure you can see that when you list your home for sale with one of the agents
in our office, you are putting one of the most powerful real estate teams in the area to
work for you.”
“I’m curious, did you want a group of wimpy, non-aggressive agents working to sell
your home or would you rather have hard-core, aggressive agents like those in our
office?”
Top Agent Alternative:
“Our company wants to be sure your home gets sold, as you can see we are the most
aggressive agents in town. When today can we get together?”
How about this one …
31. “We told you we weren’t going to list our home until next year! Why don’t you
stop calling, we will call you when we are ready!”
Well, my friend, this is a condition that you have created!
If you write a follow up letter that prospects find valuable, then you can call them
every month and talk to them about what you wrote.
But, since you send your regular old real estate stuff that everyone sends and nobody
cares about (especially your prospect) you just look like a pest and there isn’t much you
can do about it!
Top Agent Alternative:
“People’s plans change quite often and you may not have my name handy if your
needs change. This aggressive approach is what you will need to find the right buyer
for your home.”
Top Agent Alternative:
“Because we find people’s plans change we like to keep in touch. Who do you know
who is ready now that I can contact?”
Next one …
32. “Your office is not close to our home.”
This sounds like a smoke screen, so I’m going to flush them out …
“I agree, it’s not right around the corner from your home and tell me, why is that
important to you?”
Now you’ll get the real objection … more service, less cost, whatever.
Another one …
33. “We’ll list after the holidays.”
I’d say …
“I think that’s perfectly valid and tell me, how many days during November and
December are you going to want all to yourself?” (About five) “Five, that’s great.”
“Now, did you know that exactly ____% of the homes listed for sale actually sell?”
(No)
“Did you know that right now there are ________ homes listed for sale?” (No)
“Did you know that the Board of Realtors showed that last year, more homes came on
the market in spring than any other time of the year?” (No)
“So, I guess my question is this … if I promise to keep everyone out of your hair for
those five days … would you still want to compete against potentially 6,000 homes
for sale in the spring or the 2,000 homes for sale now … if you knew that nobody or
nothing would disturb you at your request?”
Top Agent Alternative:
“Let’s get a jump start on our competition. Why not complete the paperwork now, I’ll
get the flyer made and paperwork processed and will line up buyers. So when you are
ready we’ll be ahead of the others who are just getting started.”
We’re getting close … only 8 more on my list …
Here’s one you get from Expireds all the time …
34. “We’re already committed to another agent.”
I’d say …
“Great! So, you have already signed a listing agreement?” (Well, no)
“So, you are not committed, you are just promised … right?” (Right!)
“You know … I really don’t care if you list your house with me …
“If you’re thinking of interviewing more agents for the job of selling your home … it is
vitally important that you understand the different marketing approaches so you don’t
get burned the next time …
“You don’t want to get burned again … do you?”
“So let me ask you this … Do you know the difference between passive marketing and
active marketing?” (No) “You don’t!”
“Passive marketing is basically sitting around doing nothing like, holding open houses,
sending out flyers or advertising in the newspaper. Did your last agent use any of these
methods?” (Yeah) “I was afraid of that!”
“These methods have been ineffective! Yet, your last agent sold it to you as if this was
the answer to all your problems … right?
“Do you understand what I mean by passive … basically, sitting around with you’re
fingers crossed … waiting for the buyer?
“Active marketing, on the other hand, is literally getting on the phone every single day
and personally contacting as many people as I can 25, 50, even 100 a day.
“The key is … asking them if they would like to buy your home, if they know someone
who would like to buy your home, or if they would like to sell their house … ”
“Do you know why I ask if they would like to sell their home? Because the more signs
I have the more buyers’ calls I get to show your home … that makes sense … doesn’t
it?
“Now, which way passive or active do you believe will get more homes sold?
“And you understand that I am doing active marketing on you as we speak, right?”
Got them!
I don’t think I have explained what I’m doing when I give the comparison between
passive and active marketing.
That’s what we call a future pace … basically what my objective is … is to cut the
other agents off at the knee caps by educating the customers to the realities of the
market place.
Now, when they are sitting in front of the other agent, what question are they going to
ask? “How many people do you call each day?”
Top Agent Alternative:
“Make sure you have made the right commitment by seeing me and then making your
decision. If they have better qualifications than me you can go ahead and list with
them.”
Here’s one off the list … what is this, an objection or a condition?
35. “We want to wait for the market to come back before we try and sell it again.”
Can you get around the fact that they don’t want to sell? No!
But, and I mean BUT, you may want to keep digging and see if they have an underlying
motivation that we don’t know about that is forcing them to sell now!
The fact is … if you don’t know how to match peoples’ communication patterns, they
oftentimes won’t feel comfortable telling you the truth and so you need to dig more!
Top Agent Alternative:
“In today’s economy the market is going to do one of two things; either remain the
same or continue to go down, so you see waiting just doesn’t help does it?”
Here’s one from a FSBO …
36. “I’m getting a lot of interested buyers through my house; I think I’ll be able to sell
it in a week. So, what do I need you for?”
You tell me … Objection or Condition?
CONDITION!!! If they can sell it themselves … what do they need you for?
All you can say is this … “If you don’t sell it, when will you be interviewing agents for
the job of selling your home?”
Find out when and keep following up!
Here’s one you get during a negotiation …
37. “This offer is too low; we’re going to wait for a more reasonable offer.”
Use the “What’s Important About” questions that you learned in the Over the Phone
training or off my Telephone Sales in the 90’s tapes.
Top Agent Alternative:
“99% of the time your first offer is your best. Are you willing to roll the dice for a 1%
chance?”
Top Agent Alternative:
“We are lucky to have an offer in today’s economy. We could wait, and maybe there
will be another offer, but it may take 4 months, 6 months, maybe even more, and even
then the offer could be even lower.”
38. “You’ve lowered our price three times already and it’s still not sold. How can you
ask us to drop our prices again?”
I’d say …
“Your frustration is valid. I mean the marketplace is slipping out from underneath
you … So, let me ask you this … ”
“When your neighbor’s home, which is exactly the same model as yours, sells for
$5,000 less than you are asking … Who would pay more?
“Even more importantly there are 3 other properties on the market, just like yours.
“One property is listed for $1,000 less than yours, another is $2,000 more than yours
and the last on is $1,500 less than yours.
“If anybody is going to buy a 3 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath with a 2 car garage, it will be the
home that is priced the lowest.”
“You hired me to tell you the truth and get your home sold. If I could sell it for more,
don’t you think I want a higher commission? I’m sorry reality is so painful.”
“If you would like, we could cancel our listing agreement and I could give you the
names and numbers of a couple agents that specialize in overpriced homes that never
sell.”
“Is that what you want or do you still want to work with someone that is on your side
and tells the truth?”
At which point they may throw out the next objection on our list …
39. “If we lower the price any lower, we won’t have enough equity to move.”
Which again we must resort to touching their motivational buttons …
Let me demonstrate the “What’s Important About” questions for you.
“What’s important about moving?” (I’ve got that new job I have to get to) A new job,
that’s great!”
“So, how’s that important to you … you know, the new job, I mean, what will that do?”
(Well, I’m going to make more money and I’ll be able to give my family the life that it
wants.)
“So, you’re going to make more money and give your family a better life … that’s
exciting, isn’t it?” (Yes)
“So, ultimately, you’re working at your new job, making lots of money, you are
providing a great life for your family. What will all of this do for you?” (I don’t know,
I guess it will just make me happy) “Isn’t that a great feeling?” (Yes)
“So, fortunately, to get you one step closer to … Just being happy, your providing a
great life for your family and your making lots of money at your new job, all we need
to do now is simply make the sacrifice … and lower your price, so then I can help you
get what you want in the time you want … won’t that be great!” (Yes, I guess that’s
what we have to do)”
Top Agent Alternative:
“If you really need to move, you will have to adjust your expectation level for your new
destination. I can help you find something suitable. By the time your equity flows
in your current home, prices will be higher everywhere else and you have the same
problem.”
Top Agent Alternative:
“Buyers don’t care what you are going to net. Will you be concerned about what the
seller nets when you purchase.”
Now … we made it! The last objection on the infamous list! It’s a price reduction
objection, they say …
40. “We have a unique home; the right buyer just hasn’t come through yet!”
Okay, here we go … I’d say …
“You’re right! You do have a unique home and I hate to tell you this … but at this
price, we will probably never get the right buyer in here … can I tell you why?” (Yes)
“Because 90% of all buyers are represented by Real Estate Agents … and Real Estate
Agents will qualify the buyer to find out how much they want to spend, how many
bedrooms, how many bathrooms, what amenities they want and so on …
“The problem is, the unique qualities of your home do not show up on the computer
where the Real Estate Agents get their information …
“Meaning that based on your price, the number of rooms, baths and amenities you will
not get anybody through here … no matter how hard I market to these agents. In their
mind, it isn’t the best buy on the market, they feel they are not serving their clients …
do you see my point?”
Top Agent Alternative:
“That’s the very reason you need me to maximize your exposure and get enough buyers
through that will ferret out the buyer looking for something different.” Top Agent Alternative:
“Buyers aren’t looking for a unique home; they’re looking for the best priced homes.”
Are you getting the picture … You can handle almost any objection that you come
across if you simply practice using the patterns …
Top Agent Alternative:
“Buyers aren’t looking for a unique home; they’re looking for the best priced homes.”
Are you getting the picture … You can handle almost any objection that you come
across if you simply practice using the patterns …
Always, always, always agree with your prospects that their concern is valid using…
I can appreciate that
I agree
I understand
That’s a valid concern
Tell them things like, “Most of my customers bring up that same exact point just before
they list their homes with me.”
Then, remember … never, never, never use the word “But.”
It basically tells the prospect that they are wrong and if you tell them that they are
wrong, then they will naturally look for how you are wrong and that’s the last thing you
want to happen …
Use the word “And” to transition into your objection handling patterns.
That way, after you tell the prospect that their concern is justified or basically okay,
they will look for how you are justified in what you say to them …
Always remember to use basic human nature to your advantage.
So, now that you have validated your prospect and used the work “And” to transition,
you can use one of these three patterns to handle the objection …
First of all, always break the generalization down to the specifics using reverse
inductive logic or anti cause and effect language …
Use the pattern “What specifically causes you to believe? … ”
Especially when they say things like … “Your office is so small, we were thinking of
listing with a larger office with more agents.”
You can say, “What specifically causes you to believe that a larger office has a better
chance at selling your home than a smaller one?”
TOP TEN PROPERTY PH0TO TIPS
Simple as it might sound to just “point and click” there are a few things to keep in mind that will ensure photos really add to your listing. A picture is worth a thousand words.
1. Cover the essentials. Make sure you include shots of the property’s main elements. Features that shouldn’t be left out include the front and back of the property, bedrooms, livings areas, dining room, kitchen, bathrooms, backyard and any other special attributes, such as a pool or fireplace.
2. The more photos, the better. Never be afraid to include more photos than you think you need. A floor plan is also a great inclusion if at all possible.
3. Watch for intruders. Are there items in the room that shouldn’t be there, or that send the wrong message? The photos at lovelylisting.com tell rather strange stories to potential buyers.
4. Watch the weather. While it’s not something you can control, photos that show an overcast sky or dreary late afternoon light are best avoided. Your camera settings can help with this, as can photoshop. But don’t overdo it.
5. Don’t leave them guessing. Photographing just one half of a room, even if you are trying to focus only on its best attributes, can make potential buyers suspicious as to what lies outside the frame.
6. Work your angles. Photographing large rooms from different angles gives the viewer a sense of perspective. By the same token, don’t be tempted to take crooked shots or to succumb to the lure of the wide-angle lens.
7. Common mistakes to avoid include using your flash in a room where lights are already on or in front of a window, and accidentally including yourself in a photo taken in front of a mirror.
8. Giving a sense of what life is like in a home is great, but don’t try too hard. Removing clutter is a great idea. Going so far as to include obviously constructed scenes will only create a sense of falseness.
9. Get to know your camera settings, and your tripod. If you’re going to do it yourself get a decent camera and get to know it. You need to know about aperture, shutter speed and ISO to make your photos work harder for you. Shooting interiors at a slower speed for instance, makes them look better. A garden can look better in shade, and in harsh sunlight you might want to use a flash. There are some great tips on blog sites or take a short course.
10. If in doubt, go to the pros. While it’s certainly more expensive than whipping out your trusty digital camera, hiring a professional photographer could end up being well worth the extra cost.
Just remember: Honesty is the best policy. After all, when clients eventually see the property, the difference between a picture that has gone under the Photoshop knife and the reality will become all too obvious.
M | T | W | T | F | S | S |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | ||
6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 |
20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 |
27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 |