NATCHEZ — The phrase, “it’s a real fixer-upper,” might send many would-be home buyers in the other direction.

But when Natchez residents Reeve and Katie Gibson hear that phrase, that house jumps to the top of their list.

The Gibsons were busy renovating their newly purchased home on St. Charles Avenue Saturday morning when The Dart landed.

Fixing up old homes is a hobby that the couple very much enjoys, they said.

“It’s something we started doing a few years ago,” Katie said. “We enjoy doing it together. It’s something fun we can do together that is also practical.”

Reeve said the couple bought their 1,800 square foot, three bedroom and two-bathroom home about a month ago. The house was originally built in the 1860s Reeve said.

This is the second house the couple will renovate. Their first home was located in Montebello and they lived there for approximately six years, Reeve said. Reeve said they did about $60,000 worth of improvements on their first house.

This time around Reeve will be renovating for a family. The couple had their first child, Zoie, 10 months ago.

Katie, who does much of the painting, was actually working on Zoie’s room Saturday, she said.

“(Working on the house) is different than last time because of the baby,” Katie said.

Reeve added that the process would take longer this time because the family will be living in the house while they are working on it.

“(Living in it) makes (the job) take twice as long because you have to clean up after yourself,” Reeve said. “(Especially with the baby), you have to make sure you don’t leave any tools or sharp objects (lying) around.”

Reeve, 24, helps run Gibson Interiors with his brother Britt Gibson, where he specializes in flooring and granite countertops. Their father Clay started the company. Both Britt and Clay have helped Reeve with the renovations.

Reeve said he loves working with kitchens and bathrooms, which is one of the reasons his new home on St. Charles Avenue piqued his interest.

“What gets me about housing is the bathrooms and kitchen,” Reeve said. “The large kitchen got me with this one.”

The Gibsons said they also like the neighborhood and living downtown.

Reeve said that buying old houses that need work cuts down on the costs, and he can renovate the houses himself to raise the value.

Between running a company and raising a young child, the Gibsons said they have trouble finding time to work on their house. Reeve said this renovation would probably take four to five months.

“It’s hard (to find time),” Reeve said. “(We have to work on it) after work and on weekends. We work until 10 or 11 at night sometimes.”

The Gibsons look forward to the finished product, they said.

“It will be nice to enjoy the open air and (to have so much space) for when we do have get-togethers,” Katie said.

Reeve said seeing the finished product is his favorite part of the experience.

“The main reason (I do it) is I enjoy seeing the finished product,” Reeve said, “to see what it looked like before and after. And I enjoy living in it.”

Reeve said the family plans to live in the house for about five years. Then they might hit the market again, looking for another “fixer-upper.”