App Spree -- CLIs, or New Cards First?

[beekrock]

I'm planning an upcoming app spree and was wondering what other CBers would do.

 

Would it be better to do a round of CLIs first and then apply for new cards, or vice versa? My goal this go-around is simply maximum overall available credit.

[Losluv]

How many cards do you have and how long have you had them?

[beekrock]

How many cards do you have and how long have you had them?

19 cards with an AAOA of 4 years, 1 month. Last card(s) opened October 2013.

[nateinva]

It'd be good to know what you already have in the stable. Depending on account age and usage, you may be able to pull some soft CLIs before turning attention to new accounts.

 

Depending on what your overall limits look like now, including total utilization, some CLIs could really benefit you. Basically, get the CLIs that you can first and let all that update to the CRAs before apping anything new.

 

If CLIs are hard pulls, do some research to see if the particular bank is known to give good CLIs to make sure it's worth the inquiry.

[Losluv]

Also do you have any goals for rewards with your cards - travel or cash back? That may be reason to add to your portfolio.

[mendelssohn]

Rewards strategy?

 

List of cards and limits?

[deanmartini]

Also make sure any CLI you request are soft pulls. You don't want a bunch of inquiries on your reports before opening new accounts.

[NoPresetSnarkLimit]

get the cli's that you can first and LET ALL THAT UPDATE to the cra's BEFORE apping anything new.

 

 

reSHOUTED it for you, good advice.

 

+1 current cards and limits would be helpful in guiding you for best results.

[Cappy]

Possible Soft Cli's from Big Banks.

 

Amex, Barclays (via Supervisor and targeted) Cap 1, Citi, Discover, Comenity Via Luv. Synchrony (Almost all cards)

 

Hard Pulls: Chase( unless Auto CLI) BOA: Always Hard

[beekrock]

Great advice so far! Thanks, everyone!

 

Here are all of my accounts. I should note that many of the business accounts do not report to my personal reports.

 

Wells Fargo Visa - $15k

Wells Fargo BLOC - $40k

Chase Sapphire - $25k

Chase Business Ink - $35k

Chase Business Ink Plus - $12.5k

NFCU Visa - $3k

NFCU MC - $44k

NFCU Navchek - $15k

NFCU Business MC - $10k

PENFED Amex - $20k

PENFED PLOC - $25k

Discover It - $13k

Citadel FCU MC - $5k

Citadel FCU PLOC - $20k

USAA Visa - $25k

USAA MC - $25k

Amex Blue for Business - $25k -> $2.5k (CLD last month due to utilization)

CapOne Platinum MC - $2.4k

Sunoco gas card - $2.3k

Citi ThankYou Business - $25k

PSECU PSL/Visa - $20k

DCU Visa - $25k

PhoenixFed MC - $10k

PhoenixFed BLOC - $40k

BOA WorldPoints Visa - $20k

Malvern Fed Visa - $14k

PNC Points Business Visa - $12k

 

The new accounts I'm looking to apply for are primarily business non-personal-reporting BLOCS and ANY no-fee cash-advance cards/PLOCs with low APR. A secondary emphasis would be on higher overall personal-reporting total available credit so that high utilization is less of a worry in the future.

[NoPresetSnarkLimit]

Great advice so far! Thanks, everyone!

Here are all of my accounts. I should note that many of the business accounts do not report to my personal reports.

Wells Fargo Visa - $15k

Wells Fargo BLOC - $40k

Chase Sapphire - $25k

Chase Business Ink - $35k

Chase Business Ink Plus - $12.5k

NFCU Visa - $3k

NFCU MC - $44k

NFCU Navchek - $15k

NFCU Business MC - $10k

PENFED Amex - $20k

PENFED PLOC - $25k

Discover It - $13k

Citadel FCU MC - $5k

Citadel FCU PLOC - $20k

USAA Visa - $25k

USAA MC - $25k

Amex Blue for Business - $25k -> $2.5k (CLD last month due to utilization)

CapOne Platinum MC - $2.4k

Sunoco gas card - $2.3k

Citi ThankYou Business - $25k

PSECU PSL/Visa - $20k

DCU Visa - $25k

PhoenixFed MC - $10k

PhoenixFed BLOC - $40k

BOA WorldPoints Visa - $20k

Malvern Fed Visa - $14k

PNC Points Business Visa - $12k

The new accounts I'm looking to apply for are primarily business non-personal-reporting BLOCS and ANY no-fee cash-advance cards/PLOCs with low APR. A secondary emphasis would be on higher overall personal-reporting total available credit so that high utilization is less of a worry in the future.

CLD last month pops out like a big red flag, could hamper your efforts.

[beekrock]

I don't believe the Amex that had the CLD reports to personal.

[NoPresetSnarkLimit]

The new accounts I'm looking to apply for are primarily business non-personal-reporting

I don't believe the Amex that had the CLD reports to personal.

[beekrock]

That's correct, Snark. I suppose Amex did an account/credit review, noticed my high utilization, and got spooked. I'd love to get some more BLOCs and business-only reporting cards to help build my "hidden" total available credit.

 

I've also toyed with the idea of combining limits on a few cards, too. Ideally, I think the best course of action would be: combine limits where I can ---> wait for them to report ---> a round of CLIs ---> wait for them to report ---> apply for new accounts. The question is, do I have the patience for that

[Konrad2012]

I think the best course of action would be: combine limits where I can ---> wait for them to report ---> a round of CLIs ---> wait for them to report ---> apply for new accounts. The question is, do I have the patience for that

CLI's, then combine, then app after they report.

 

The question isn't patience, it's intelligence. If you're impatient, you're a dumb flowers. There's no candy coating it any other way.

[cv91915]

Also make sure any CLI you request are soft pulls. You don't want a bunch of inquiries on your reports before opening new accounts.

 

Inquiries barely matter.

 

https://creditboards.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=543266&p=5264585

 

I just picked up a Chase Marriott card with 14 on Equifax.

[Cappy]

 

 

Also make sure any CLI you request are soft pulls. You don't want a bunch of inquiries on your reports before opening new accounts.

Inquiries barely matter.

 

https://creditboards.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=543266&p=5264585

 

I just picked up a Chase Marriott card with 14 on Equifax.

My friend has 25 INQs on EX and recently got an instant on the CSP....