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Note 11 - Goodwill | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2011
Goodwill Disclosure [Text Block] |
11. | Goodwill
|  | Commercial Real Estate Services |  |  | Residential Property Management |  |  | Property Services |  |  | Consolidated |
Balance, December 31, 2009 |  | $ | 125,502 |  |  | $ | 128,071 |  |  | $ | 86,654 |  |  | $ | 340,227 |
Goodwill arising from contingent acquisition consideration |  |  | - |  |  |  | 626 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 626 |
Goodwill acquired during the period |  |  | 18,776 |  |  |  | 13,691 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 32,467 |
Other items |  |  | - |  |  |  | (1,723 | ) |  |  | (757 | ) |  |  | (2,480 | )
Foreign exchange |  |  | 8,540 |  |  |  | 227 |  |  |  | 250 |  |  |  | 9,017 |
Balance, December 31, 2010 |  |  | 152,818 |  |  |  | 140,892 |  |  |  | 86,147 |  |  |  | 379,857 |
Goodwill acquired during the period |  |  | 279 |  |  |  | 19,748 |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | 20,027 |
Other items |  |  | (289 | ) |  |  | (787 | ) |  |  | (215 | ) |  |  | (1,291 | )
Foreign exchange |  |  | (2,093 | ) |  |  | (911 | ) |  |  | (102 | ) |  |  | (3,106 | )
Balance, December 31, 2011 |  |  | 150,715 |  |  |  | 158,942 |  |  |  | 85,830 |  |  |  | 395,487 |
Goodwill |  |  | 180,298 |  |  |  | 158,942 |  |  |  | 85,830 |  |  |  | 425,070 |
Accumulated impairment loss |  |  | (29,583 | ) |  |  | - |  |  |  | - |  |  |  | (29,583 | )
|  | $ | 150,715 |  |  | $ | 158,942 |  |  | $ | 85,830 |  |  | $ | 395,487 |
A test for goodwill impairment is required to be completed annually, in the Company’s case as of August 1, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate the asset might be impaired. No goodwill impairments were identified in 2011 or 2010. In 2009, the Company was required to perform goodwill impairment tests due to a continuing deterioration of economic conditions negatively impacting the performance of the Commercial Real Estate segment. The Company determined that there were impairments in the North America and Central Europe & Latin America reporting units within the reportable segment driven by adverse economic conditions and sharply reduced brokerage activity. The fair values of the reporting units were determined using discounted cash flow models, which fell within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy and were based on management’s forecast and current economic trends. The amount of the impairment loss related to the two reporting units was $29,583 (net of income tax of nil).

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- Definition The entire disclosure for goodwill. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_GoodwillDisclosureTextBlock
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | nonnum:textBlockItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration