Loans are amazing tools. With loans you can purchase a home, buy a car, finance an education, pay for a holiday and do some much needed repairs about the house. Regardless of why, you will likely need to take out a loan at some point during your life. When the time comes, you should be prepared. You should know how to compare loans thoroughly so that you can be sure that you get the best deal possible.

Why? There are many variations among loans. Terms and rates for each loan can vary dramatically. This can have a huge impact on your wallet. Simply taking some extra time to compare the loans available could save you a lot of money and heartache later down the road.

Now that you know why you should compare loans, you need to know how to compare loans. There are several points that you should consider including customer service, interest rate, monthly repayment, type of loan and the fine print. We will go into more detail with each below:

• Customer service - You should start to compare loans from the very beginning. From the moment you make first contact with a lender regarding an application you should be studying clues. Are they friendly and courteous towards you? Are your calls returned promptly? What are the hours of operation? Will you be able to contact a live person easily?

• Interest rate - The amount of money that you will pay for your loan is determined by the interest rate. When comparing loans with like terms, always look for the loan with the lowest interest rate. This will save you money. Remember; only compare similar loans. Different terms may make a loan with a low interest rate undesirable.

• Monthly repayment - Can you afford the repayment? Is the repayment set high enough so that you can repay the loan quickly? There are many things to consider here. Keep in mind that cheap repayments are not always ideal as this stretches out the length of the loan and results in more interest payments.

• Type of loan - There are many different types of loans. Be sure to understand how each type of loan works before you sign. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to ask. It's better to ask beforehand than to get stuck with a loan that doesn't work for you.

• Fine print - Always study the fine print. Will the interest rate change? Will your payment change? What happens if you miss a payment? You should understand EVERYTHING before you sign.

Don't be afraid to ask too many questions before you take out a loan. It's your money; you should know where it is going to. If a lender seems to be put off by all of your questions, you need to find a new lender. In fact, most reputable lenders recommend that you compare loans before you make a decision. If you feel pressured to make a decision or if a lender does not want to help you understand the terms of a loan, move on to another lender.