Credit Score Management

I am selling my house (it was an investment property that I am flipping) and using the proceeds to pay off credit card debt that I have incurred while redoing the home. After the house is sold all my cards will be paid off and the only things I will have to make payments on are my car and student loan. I was wondering how long it will take the credit card companies to say the credit report of their zero balance status? Can I question the credit card companies to report the paid off status to my credit report immediately? Also should I close most of these cards or close them? How should I choose which credit cards to close and which to keep open to keep a high credit score? ( I have never had a 30 day late on any of my cards) I want to do whatever I can to improve my credit score the most.

My credit score is still in the 400’s. I paid off all of my collections and my credit cards. I recently bought a new car with a co-signer and i pay more than my monthly payment. But my credit score is still in the 400’s and it’s been more than a year since i paid everything off. Is there any other way to improve my credit score?