Projects
Create a job in Core Estimator and keep the estimate, plans, tasks, and contacts for that job in one place.
Who this is for: Builders, subcontractors, and estimators who want to set up a new job in Core Estimator and start building an estimate.
What Projects is for
A project is the container for everything connected to a job. When you create one, you get a place to attach an estimate, upload and calibrate plans, assign tasks, and link the contacts involved — all under the one job reference. Instead of chasing information across separate files, every piece of work for that job sits in one place.
Projects is where you start every new job. You won't be able to create an estimate until a project exists to put it in.
Things worth knowing upfront
A project is just the container — the estimating happens inside it under the Estimates tab. Creating a project doesn't create an estimate automatically.
The Type options (Residential, Commercial, Industrial) and Stage options are configured in Setup. If the stage you want isn't available, add it under Setup > Lists > Project Stages first.
The Company column on the Projects list shows which Core Estimator account the project belongs to. For your own projects, it will always show your company. It's most useful when another Core Estimator user — for example, a builder — invites you into one of their projects. That shared project will show the builder's company name in the column, so you can clearly tell which projects are yours and which have been shared into your account.
Status defaults to In Progress when you create a new project.
How to get there
From the black header at the top of the screen, click Projects.
In the left menu list, click Projects.
What you'll see
You land on the Projects list. Across the top are three tabs:
Active — your current jobs (default view)
Completed — jobs you've marked as finished
Archived — jobs you've retired from the active list
The table shows the following columns:
Column | What it shows |
Project Name | The project name and any subtitle |
Company | The Core Estimator account the project belongs to. For your own projects, this is always your company. If a builder or another user shares a project into your account, their company name shows here so you can tell shared projects apart from your own. |
Status | Pending, In Progress, Completed, or Archived |
Type | Residential, Commercial, or Industrial |
Stage | Your configured stage (e.g. Tendering, In Construction) |
Date Created | When the project was first created |
A New Project button sits at the top right. A Search Project Name input lets you filter the list. Click any row to open that project.
Step-by-step: creating a new project
On the Projects list, click New Project in the top right. A panel opens on the right side of the screen.
Fill in the project details:
Field | What to enter | Notes |
Project Name | The job name — e.g. Brennan Street Kitchen & Bathroom Renovation | Required. This is how the job appears everywhere in Core Estimator. |
Set as Template Project | Leave unticked for a real job | Tick only if you're creating a reusable template. Template projects don't appear in the standard Active list. |
Description | Optional — e.g. Kitchen and bathroom renovation. Includes wet area waterproofing, custom joinery, and fixture replacements. | Internal reference only. Not visible to clients. |
Status | In Progress | Defaults to In Progress. Change to Pending if the job hasn't started yet. |
Type | Residential | Residential, Commercial, or Industrial. |
Address Line 1 | e.g. 34 Brennan Street | Optional, but useful for identifying jobs at a glance on the list. |
City | e.g. Newtown | |
State | e.g. NSW | |
Postcode | e.g. 2042 |
Click Save at the bottom of the panel.
Core Estimator creates the project and takes you straight to its Overview page. You'll see the project name in the header and a panel on the left with four tabs: Overview, Project Contacts, Estimates, and Tasks.
Note: The Stage field appears once you're inside a project on the Overview page — it's not part of the New Project panel. Set it from the project's Overview after saving.
Worked example: setting up the Brennan Street renovation
A builder has been asked to price a kitchen and bathroom renovation at 34 Brennan Street, Newtown. Before they can start the estimate, they need a project to put it in.
They click New Project, fill in the panel:
Project Name: Brennan Street Kitchen & Bathroom Renovation
Status: In Progress
Type: Residential
Address: 34 Brennan Street, Newtown NSW 2042
Description: Kitchen and bathroom renovation. Includes wet area waterproofing, custom joinery, and fixture replacements.
They click Save. Core Estimator creates the project and opens the Overview page. The builder can now go to the Estimates tab to start the cost breakdown, or to Project Contacts to link the client.
What's inside a project
Once a project is created, everything for that job lives under four tabs inside the project:
Tab | What it's for |
Overview | Project details — name, status, type, stage, address, and Project Reference. Edit any field and save. |
Project Contacts | Link the client, contractor, and other parties to this project. Contacts added here are associated with the job for tasks, proposals, and communication. |
Estimates | Create and manage estimates for this job. A project can have more than one estimate (e.g. for different versions or scope options). |
Tasks | Create and assign tasks connected to this job — RFIs, approvals, follow-ups. |
Understanding Status
Status | What it means | Appears on |
Pending | Job is in the pipeline but hasn't started | Active tab |
In Progress | Active job — default when created | Active tab |
Completed | Job is finished | Completed tab |
Archived | Retired from the active list | Archived tab |
Step-by-step: editing a project
You can update project details at any time from the Overview tab inside the project.
From the Projects list, click the project row to open it.
On the Overview tab, update any fields — Project Name, Status, Type, Stage, Address, or Description. You'll also see a Project Reference field here, which you can use for your own internal job numbering.
Click Save.
Step-by-step: archiving a project
Open the project from the Projects list.
On the Overview tab, change the Status field to Archived.
Click Save.
The project moves to the Archived tab on the Projects list. Nothing is deleted — all estimates, plans, tasks, and contacts remain intact.
Tip: Use the address fields when you create a project, even if it's optional. Job addresses make it much easier to identify projects at a glance on the list, especially once you have a lot of them.
Tips
Name projects consistently. "Brennan Street Kitchen & Bathroom Renovation" is more useful than "Reno Job 4" when you're scanning a list six months later. Street address plus scope works well for residential work.
Set the Stage as soon as you know it. Tendering, In Construction, Defects — whatever your workflow looks like. It makes the Projects list useful at a glance and helps the whole team know where each job stands.
Add Project Contacts early. Linking the client, subbie, or other parties to a project keeps all the relevant people connected to the job — and makes it easy to send proposals or assign tasks to the right contacts without hunting for details.
One project per job. Don't try to manage multiple jobs under one project. If a client has two sites, create two projects.
Troubleshooting
Symptom | Cause | Fix |
The Stage dropdown is empty or doesn't have the option I need | Stage options haven't been configured yet | Go to Setup > Lists > Project Stages and add the stages your business uses |
The Company column shows a company name I don't recognise | A project has been shared into your account from another Core Estimator user — typically a builder sharing with a subcontractor | This is expected. The company name is the account that shared the project with you. You can see plans and assign tasks on shared projects. |
I can't find a project I know exists | It may be on the Completed or Archived tab | Check the other tabs, or use the Search Project Name input to search across all statuses |
I created a project but can't see it in the Active list | It was saved with Status set to Pending, or was accidentally set as a Template | Search for it by name, open it, and check the Status and Template fields on the Overview tab |
Related articles
Estimates — create and manage the cost breakdown for a project
Project Contacts — link clients, contractors, and other parties to a project
Tasks & Communication — assign and track tasks connected to a job
Still stuck?
Reach out through the chat bubble in the bottom right of Core Estimator and we'll give you a hand.