Restructuring (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) Store	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) Store	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($) store
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring expenses	$ 15,500	$ 4,700		$ 20,218	$ 0	$ 9,140
Operating Segments
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring expenses						9,140
Operating Segments | HomeSmart
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring expenses						$ 6
Operating Segments | Sales and Lease Ownership
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of store closures | store						44
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring expenses						$ 4,836
Operating Segments | Franchised Stores
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring expenses				88
Operating Segments | Other segment
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring expenses				3,508		4,298
Operating Segments | Severance
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring expenses				3,883		620
Operating Segments | Severance | HomeSmart
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring expenses						0
Operating Segments | Severance | Sales and Lease Ownership
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring expenses				287		419
Operating Segments | Severance | Franchised Stores
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring expenses				88
Operating Segments | Severance | Other segment
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring expenses				3,508		201
Operating Segments | Fixed Assets
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring expenses				4,538		3,328
Operating Segments | Fixed Assets | HomeSmart
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring expenses						0
Operating Segments | Fixed Assets | Sales and Lease Ownership
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring expenses						3,328
Operating Segments | Fixed Assets | Franchised Stores
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring expenses				0
Operating Segments | Fixed Assets | Other segment
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring expenses				0		0
Operating Segments | Contractual Lease Obligations
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring expenses				11,589		4,797
Operating Segments | Contractual Lease Obligations | HomeSmart
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring expenses						6
Operating Segments | Contractual Lease Obligations | Sales and Lease Ownership
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring expenses				11,589		694
Operating Segments | Contractual Lease Obligations | Franchised Stores
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring expenses				0
Operating Segments | Contractual Lease Obligations | Other segment
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring expenses				0		4,097
Operating Segments | Lease Merchandise Write-Offs
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring expenses				208		395
Operating Segments | Lease Merchandise Write-Offs | HomeSmart
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring expenses						0
Operating Segments | Lease Merchandise Write-Offs | Sales and Lease Ownership
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring expenses				208		395
Operating Segments | Lease Merchandise Write-Offs | Franchised Stores
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring expenses				0
Operating Segments | Lease Merchandise Write-Offs | Other segment
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring expenses				0		0
2014 Restructuring Program
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and related cost, expected cost remaining	0			0
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring expenses						9,100
2014 Restructuring Program | Severance
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring expenses						600
2014 Restructuring Program | Fixed Assets
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring expenses						3,300
2014 Restructuring Program | Contractual Lease Obligations
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			$ 1,012	1,668	3,227	0
Restructuring expenses						4,797
Adjustments				(110)
Payments				(766)	(1,559)	(1,570)
Ending balance	1,012			1,012	1,668	$ 3,227
2016 Restructuring Program | Severance
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			2,079	0
Restructuring expenses				3,883
Adjustments				0
Restructuring Charges				3,883
Payments				(1,804)
Ending balance	2,079			2,079	0
2016 Restructuring Program | Contractual Lease Obligations
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			$ 10,583	0
Restructuring expenses				11,830
Adjustments				241
Restructuring Charges				11,589
Payments				(1,006)
Ending balance	$ 10,583			10,583	$ 0
2016 Restructuring Program | Operating Segments | Facility Closing
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of store closures | Store	56
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]
Restructuring expenses				16,622
2016 Restructuring Program | Operating Segments | Contractual Lease Obligations
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Restructuring and related cost, expected cost remaining	$ 13,000			$ 13,000
Scenario, Forecast | 2016 Restructuring Program | Operating Segments | Facility Closing
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]
Number of store closures | Store			70