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, 2014		Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013		Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 759,742		$ 707,564	$ 672,510	$ 585,423	$ 553,852		$ 537,224	$ 550,545	$ 593,010	$ 2,725,239		$ 2,234,631		$ 2,212,827
Earnings Before Income Taxes	34,233		13,199	13,562	60,710	34,111		29,420	40,387	81,042	121,704		184,960		276,855
Assets	2,456,844					1,827,176					2,456,844		1,827,176		1,812,929
Interest Expense											19,215		5,613		6,392
Capital Expenditure											47,565		58,145		65,073
Sales and Lease Ownership
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues											2,037,101		2,076,269		2,068,124
Earnings Before Income Taxes											140,854		183,965		244,014
Assets	1,246,325					1,431,720					1,246,325		1,431,720		1,410,075
Depreciation and Amortization											633,119		639,951		619,133
Interest Expense											7,834		7,070		7,589
Capital Expenditure											24,135		30,831		33,460
Progressive
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues											549,548		0		0
Earnings Before Income Taxes											4,603		0		0
Assets	858,159					0					858,159		0		0
Depreciation and Amortization											346,343		0		0
Interest Expense											14,992		0		0
Capital Expenditure											1,625		0		0
HomeSmart
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues											64,276		62,840		55,226
Earnings Before Income Taxes											(2,643)		(3,428)		(6,962)
Assets	47,585					47,970					47,585		47,970		58,347
Depreciation and Amortization											22,407		23,977		20,482
Interest Expense											922		916		846
Capital Expenditure											1,020		994		4,121
Franchise
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues											65,902		68,575		66,655
Earnings Before Income Taxes											50,504		54,171		52,672
Assets	46,755					47,788					46,755		47,788		53,820
Depreciation and Amortization											1,599		1,781		1,787
Interest Expense											0		0		0
Capital Expenditure											0		0		0
Manufacturing
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues											104,058		106,523		95,693
Earnings Before Income Taxes											860		107		382
Assets	23,050	[1]				24,305	[1]				23,050	[1]	24,305	[1]	24,787	[1]
Depreciation and Amortization											1,649		2,081		4,430
Interest Expense											50		80		106
Capital Expenditure											1,477		1,531		4,493
Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues											2,969		22,158		19,688
Earnings Before Income Taxes											(75,905)		(56,114)		(12,337)
Assets	234,970					275,393					234,970		275,393		265,900
Depreciation and Amortization											13,117		17,315		12,503
Interest Expense											(4,583)		(2,453)		(2,149)
Capital Expenditure											19,308		24,789		22,999
Reportable Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues											2,823,854		2,336,365		2,305,386
Earnings Before Income Taxes											118,273		178,701		277,769
Depreciation and Amortization											1,018,234		685,105		658,335
Interest Expense											19,215		5,613		6,392
Capital Expenditure											47,565		58,145		65,073
Elimination of Intersegment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues											(102,296)		(103,834)		(95,150)
Earnings Before Income Taxes											(813)		(94)		(393)
Cash to Accrual and Other Adjustments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues											3,681		2,100		2,591
Earnings Before Income Taxes											4,244		6,353		(521)
Canada Operations | Sales and Lease Ownership
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues											179		300		308
Assets	$ 776					$ 1,021					$ 776		$ 1,021		$ 1,391

[1] Includes inventory (principally raw materials and work-in-process) that has been classified within lease merchandise in the consolidated balance sheets of $13.2 million, $14.0 million and $14.1 million as of December 31, 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.