Credit repair, help needed

[Steven E.]

I'm currently in the process of buying a home using my VA loan. I have little education on credit / credit use but I've been doing countless research since I began mortgage shopping. I could have sworn up and down that I had good credit, but I didn't know about the '30%' credit utilization rule. Long story short I paid down my debt from owing 60% to 18%.

After reviewing my credit report (that I received from a potential lender while mortgage shopping) I noticed a few items in bold.

Best Buy/CBNA - Closed - amount owed $625 - 1 late remark 2015 - this account is current I make all monthly payments I can also pay this off.

Verizon - Collection - amount owed $529 - this was for equipment that we already returned we have the receipt and everything and were told it was going to be taken out of collection, obviously it didn't.

Dept of VA - Collection - Amount owed $125 - this was an over payment that I honestly don't even remember ever getting. I just got off the phone with the VA and they have an old address on file which explains why I haven't seen this. Apparently the debt is with the Treasury department now not the VA.

Comenity/Boscovs (department store) - amount owed $0 - 4 late payment remarks. 3 of them are 5/2016, 8/2016, and 5/2017 30-59 days late and 1 of them 9/2016 is for 60-89 days late. This account has been paid off and not used in over 2 years.

Conserve (a collection agency used by my University) - Amount owed $0 status reads 'Paid Collection'

My credit score should be at a 640 (fico) with my debt paid down from 60% to 18%, but I want to be at a higher score so I can get better rates. A different lender mentioned a credit repair agency, but I rarely see good reviews on these agencies.

I have the money to pay the debt on the Best buy and VA loan but my lender told me not to do so just yet because it might reflect negatively on my credit. Would it be the same if I write pay for deletion letters? Does it make sense to have an agency or someone do this for me? Are there any recommendations? Is this something I can realistically do myself? I'm really anxious and would rather get approved with better interest rates than just get approved if that makes any sense.

I'm definitely learning my lesson the hard way