Information on Segments and Reconciliation to Earnings Before Income Taxes from Continuing Operations (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 553,852	$ 537,224	$ 550,545	$ 593,010	$ 565,366	$ 526,883	$ 537,279	$ 583,299	$ 2,234,631	$ 2,212,827	$ 2,012,578
Earnings Before Income Taxes	34,111	29,420	40,387	81,042	57,192	46,044	58,590	115,029	184,960	276,855	183,377
Assets	1,827,176				1,812,929				1,827,176	1,812,929	1,731,899
Depreciation and Amortization									685,105	658,335	600,671
Interest Expense									5,613	6,392	4,709
Capital Expenditure									58,145	65,073	78,211
Sales and Lease Ownership
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									2,076,269	2,068,124	1,920,372
Earnings Before Income Taxes									183,965	244,014	144,232
Assets	1,431,720				1,410,075				1,431,720	1,410,075	1,285,807
Depreciation and Amortization									641,576	620,774	581,945
Interest Expense									4,470	5,345	4,348
Capital Expenditure									30,831	33,460	51,639
HomeSmart
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									62,840	55,226	15,624
Earnings Before Income Taxes									(3,428)	(6,962)	(7,283)
Assets	47,970				58,347				47,970	58,347	50,600
Depreciation and Amortization									23,977	20,482	5,933
Interest Expense									916	846	201
Capital Expenditure									994	4,121	10,950
RIMCO
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									20,596	16,674	11,317
Earnings Before Income Taxes									(414)	573	153
Assets	13,195				11,737				13,195	11,737	7,344
Depreciation and Amortization									6,703	5,247	3,198
Interest Expense									227	186	125
Capital Expenditure									1,650	2,020	1,763
Franchise
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									68,575	66,655	63,255
Earnings Before Income Taxes									54,171	52,672	49,577
Assets	47,788				53,820				47,788	53,820	56,131
Depreciation and Amortization									156	146	41
Interest Expense									0	0	0
Capital Expenditure									0	0	0
Manufacturing
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									106,523	95,693	89,430
Earnings Before Income Taxes									107	382	2,960
Assets	24,305				24,787				24,305	24,787	21,691
Depreciation and Amortization									2,081	4,430	1,294
Interest Expense									80	106	142
Capital Expenditure									1,531	4,493	2,107
Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									1,562	3,014	5,539
Earnings Before Income Taxes									(55,700)	(12,910)	119
Assets	262,198				254,163				262,198	254,163	310,326
Depreciation and Amortization									10,612	7,256	8,260
Interest Expense									(80)	(91)	(107)
Capital Expenditure									23,139	20,979	11,752
Earnings Before Income Taxes for Reportable Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									2,336,365	2,305,386	2,105,537
Earnings Before Income Taxes									178,701	277,769	189,758
Elimination of Intersegment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									(103,834)	(95,150)	(89,430)
Earnings Before Income Taxes									(94)	(393)	(2,960)
Cash to Accrual and Other Adjustments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									2,100	2,591	(3,529)
Earnings Before Income Taxes									6,353	(521)	(3,421)
CANADA | Sales and Lease Ownership
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									300	308	3,258
Assets	$ 1,021				$ 1,391				$ 1,021	$ 1,391	$ 1,527