Sign up @ truecredit.com. They have credit alert - every single change/report on your credit will be updated on daily basis. Do not sign up for the credit score, they do not use FICO. Paying off open judgements or active collections will improve your scores, paying off old inactive collections will not. Typically, opening new secured credit will improve your scores faster too. Another trick that I love to use is by signing up as an authorized user with a seasoned line of credit (e.g. get your rich uncle with 5 year old $100k amex card to add you as an authorized user for 3 months. When this line of credit shows up on your report, it improves your DTI and provides instant 5 year on time payment history.)

Do not ask any mortgage broker to repull your credit just yet.