It’s apartment hunting time – is your credit score up to snuff?

Editor’s Note: This is a guest post by Jessica from the MoneyLion team.

Looking for a new apartment or condo can be exciting and a lot of fun. It can also be stressful. Coming up with large deposits all at once, packing up and moving, saying goodbye to friends and neighbors, figuring out where to put everything – it’s all a lot of work on top of your everyday life! And one thing that can be especially daunting is your credit score. If it’s not high enough, you could have trouble getting the apartment you really want.

Almost all landlords will run a credit report to check for delinquencies or evictions at previous residences and to get an overall idea of your financial trustworthiness. Some landlords are most concerned with your income and references, but some can be sticklers about that score. Depending on where you live, that three digit number could be the determining factor on whether you get the place you want – or not.

What can you do if your credit score is too low and you’re worried you might not get the apartment you want because of it?

1. Get a cosigner.

Your parents or another family member might step in to cosign for you. This can be a big relief if you either don’t have a strong credit history yet or you have a low score. Their help can go a long way to helping you get a strong footing for a great financial future. The one thing you need to be sure of: don’t let them down. If you can’t pay the rent even one month, their credit could get dinged. You could even get evicted and this would show up on their credit report. Make sure if you do get a cosigner, that you can fulfill your financial obligations every month.

2. Offer to pay your rent in advance.

If you have the funds but not the right score, you can offer to pay your landlord six months rent upfront. Then you’ll already be ahead of other prospective tenants. Cold hard cash is an excellent negotiating tool. If you have it, consider using it.

3. Raise your credit score.

If you don’t have to move immediately, why not take a few months and work to raise your score? It’s easier than you think, it just takes diligence and a plan. One way to get help is to take advantage of free credit monitoring services. MoneyLion, the online financial health company, offers a mobile app that lets you track your expenses, keep tabs on your spending, avoid fees, ramp up your savings and most important of all, improve your credit – all in one place. You’ll also get the convenience of an updated TransUnion® VantageScore 3.0 credit score every month along with customized credit tips just for you that can help you with your overall financial health.

4. Check for mistakes.

Knowing your credit score is one thing but knowing your credit report inside out is another. Quick explainer: your credit score is derived from your credit report, the latter of which is your credit “report card” that rates you on a variety of factors.

1 in 4 Americans have an error in their credit report that can harm their score. Make sure you check for these mistakes and dispute any that you might find. A dinged score – even if it’s not your fault! – can be the difference between getting that dream apartment or not.

It’s a good idea to review your credit report at least once a year, and more often if you’re in the market for a new apartment. Unlike traditional credit reports you’re familiar with, MoneyLion’s version from TransUnion® and Equifax is super easy-to-understand and packed with helpful tips.

Since you’re reading with us today, you can get your own copy by first signing up to get your free credit score and credit monitoring and then going to the “Credit Report” section of the MoneyLion site. And for a limited time through July 31, 2017 you can get $4.95 off the full report by using promo code ZUMPERJULY17.