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, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues	$ 568,463	$ 529,510	$ 538,619	$ 585,996	$ 522,705	$ 484,731	$ 482,415	$ 532,480	$ 2,222,588	$ 2,022,331	$ 1,876,338
Earnings Before Income Taxes	57,192	46,044	58,590	115,029	48,739	45,092	17,627	71,919	276,855	183,377	190,786
Assets	1,812,929				1,731,899				1,812,929	1,731,899	1,500,853
Depreciation and Amortization									661,433	603,564	549,532
Interest Expense									6,392	4,709	3,096
Capital Expenditure					2,800				65,073	78,211	87,636
Sales and Lease Ownership
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									2,088,894	1,938,614	1,803,601
Earnings Before Income Taxes									243,531	143,686	159,417
Assets	1,421,812				1,293,151				1,421,812	1,293,151	1,248,785
Depreciation and Amortization									629,119	588,036	539,669
Interest Expense									5,531	4,473	2,937
Capital Expenditure									35,480	53,402	72,832
HomeSmart
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									55,226	15,624	56
Earnings Before Income Taxes									(6,962)	(7,283)	(318)
Assets	58,347				50,600				58,347	50,600	955
Depreciation and Amortization									20,482	5,933	21
Interest Expense									846	201	2
Capital Expenditure									4,121	10,950	202
Franchise
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									66,655	63,255	59,112
Earnings Before Income Taxes									52,672	49,577	45,935
Assets	53,820				56,131				53,820	56,131	55,789
Depreciation and Amortization									146	41	41
Manufacturing
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									95,693	89,430	79,113
Earnings Before Income Taxes									382	2,960	3,218
Assets	24,787				21,691				24,787	21,691	22,312
Depreciation and Amortization									4,430	1,294	2,958
Interest Expense									106	142	15
Capital Expenditure									4,493	2,107	5,484
Other
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									9,122	8,096	15,132
Earnings Before Income Taxes									(11,854)	818	(12,437)
Assets	254,163				310,326				254,163	310,326	173,012
Depreciation and Amortization									7,256	8,260	6,843
Interest Expense									(91)	(107)	142
Capital Expenditure									20,979	11,752	9,118
Reportable Segments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									2,315,590	2,115,019	1,957,014
Earnings Before Income Taxes									277,769	189,758	195,815
Elimination of Intersegment
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									(95,150)	(89,430)	(79,113)
Earnings Before Income Taxes									(393)	(2,960)	(3,218)
Cash to Accrual and Other Adjustments
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									2,148	(3,258)	(1,563)
Earnings Before Income Taxes									(521)	(3,421)	(1,811)
CANADA | Sales and Lease Ownership
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Revenues									308	3,258	4,470
Assets	$ 1,391				$ 1,527				$ 1,391	$ 1,527	$ 15,093