Ok. Here’s a suggested approach. And your plumber isn’t up to speed on the latest low temp heat pumps.

1. Replace existing hot water heater with heat-pump hot water heater. See Mass Save for rebate

https://www.masssave.com/en/saving/residential-rebates/heat-pump-water-heaters?gclid=Cj0KCQiAj4ecBhD3ARIsAM4Q_jEcyxaqAFbMWXqOc4hTRE7SrWNRH0g__cVR7XyTV6jQ-F7j1awD1qEaApepEALw_wcB

2. Have a whole house free energy audit performed by mass save contractor, make sure you tell them you want to do a strategic electrification project. This should give you a list of upgrades that can be subsidized with (in some cases very rich) incentives, mainly for whole house insulation and infiltration sealing. And yes, you can apply annually to have these done, since you pay into the energy fund.

3. Invite at least 2, best if 3, mini split heat pump contractors to give estimates for multi head heat pump system. Tell them you want to have system designed for 100% heating and cooling, and that you’ve had insulation etc upgraded for this approach. Have them assist with applying for mass save heat pump rebates. They can be asked to provide pricing to demolish boiler and all baseboard etc, or you can leave the baseboard in place and just demolish the boiler.

4. Go thru rest of house and confirm things like fridge and any other high annual usage appliances are at least 5-8 years old. The energy audit should help identify any here too. Replace if older with efficient units. Again Mass save has rebates.

5. Once the house has been converted to electric, now you have an actual baseline energy use to invite solar installers to submit proposals. With a solid understanding of your homes electric use they will attempt to size a net-zero annual photovoltaic solar system for your home. Solicite at least three prices, and try to work with firms that primarily install systems that people purchase outright. Like: Cotuit Solar, Mass Renewables to name two.

I almost forgot step 6. Celebrate b/c you have removed all on site fossil fuel burning equipment.

Define what you mean by “get off the grid”

Is it 1 or 2?

1. Literally cut all ties to physical grid, and produce and store all energy on site independently?

2. install solar energy and use electric meter connected to grid to net-meter your total usage to 0.

I thought 2021 was a masting year for many/most oak trees. This usually follows with a population increase in rodents, chipmunks, etc the following year.

Anyways, I have a somewhat older home, and used to have mice problems. Now about every few years in the summer I go around the foundation and do an old timers trick, which is to stuff steel wool around the rim joist of the house paying close attention to any small cracks etc. seems to have stopped the mice. Ymmv