Acquisitions and Dispositions - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011 Store	Dec. 31, 2010 Store	Dec. 31, 2009 Store
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Sale of sales and lease ownership locations	25	11	37
Sales and Lease Ownership
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of stores acquired	38	30	44
HomeSmart
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of stores acquired	47
Series of Individually Immaterial Business Acquisitions
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of stores acquired	52	14	29
Aggregate purchase price of acquired stores	41,400,000	17,900,000	25,200,000
Fair value of acquired tangible assets, lease merchandise	13,400,000	6,500,000	9,500,000
Fair value of acquired tangible assets, fixed assets	500,000	333,000	712,000
Fair value of acquired tangible assets, other assets	21,000	34,000	28,000
Excess cost over fair value of assets and liabilities acquired, goodwill	22,900,000	9,200,000	12,000,000
Weighted average amortization period of intangibles	2.5	2.7	2.4
Series of Individually Immaterial Business Acquisitions | Sales and Lease Ownership
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of stores acquired	8	14	29
Estimated amortization of Intangibles in 2012	916,000
Estimated amortization of Intangibles in 2013	728,000
Estimated amortization of Intangibles in 2014	191,000
Estimated amortization of Intangibles in 2015	34,000
Estimated amortization of Intangibles in 2016	32,000
Series of Individually Immaterial Business Acquisitions | HomeSmart
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of stores acquired	44
Estimated amortization of Intangibles in 2012	1,000,000
Estimated amortization of Intangibles in 2013	826,000
Estimated amortization of Intangibles in 2014	202,000
Series of Individually Immaterial Business Acquisitions | Customer Lists
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Fair value of acquired identifiable intangible assets	2,700,000	748,000	1,100,000
Series of Individually Immaterial Business Acquisitions | Non-compete intangibles
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Fair value of acquired identifiable intangible assets	1,700,000	541,000	695,000
Series of Individually Immaterial Business Acquisitions | Acquired franchise development rights
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Fair value of acquired identifiable intangible assets	255,000	496,000	477,000